Chile Deep-Sea Expedition: Scientists Discover Potential New Species off Chilean Coast

An international team of scientists has potentially discovered 60 new species off the Chilean coast during a 55-day oceanographic expedition aboard the R/V Falkor (too), operated by the Schmidt Ocean Institute in December 2024. Using advanced technology, including a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) for high-definition video capture, researchers explored previously uncharted submarine ecosystems between Valparaíso and Punta Arenas. The expedition mapped four previously unstudied submarine canyons and nearly twenty methane seep sites, revealing unique microbial communities supporting diverse deep-sea life. The team, co-led by Dr. Jeffrey Marlow of Boston University, Patricia Esquete of the University of Aveiro, and Eulogio Soto from the University of Valparaíso, observed an abundance of marine life, including basket stars, mollusks, glass sponges, and bioluminescent fish. Among the notable observations were large congregations of Humboldt squid feeding near the seeps and a sighting of a glowing anglerfish. Researchers believe that at least sixty organisms collected are new to science, with further analysis planned to validate these findings. The expedition marked the first time the region utilized an ROV to transmit imagery in real-time.