The Longest Animal Ever Recorded Amazes Scientists, And It Is A Sight To Behold

Scientists were amazed at the discovery of a 150-foot siphonophore during a month-long scientific expedition exploring submerged canyons near Perth, Australia. The specimen is the largest ever recorded, and is among the incredible 30 new underwater species found by researchers on board the Falkor, the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s research vessel. The awesome find is a massive gelatinous string siphonophore which is a floating colony of tiny individual zooids that clone themselves thousands of times into specialized bodies that work together as a team. 

Chief scientist from the Western Australian Museum, Dr. Nerida Wilson, led a team joined by researchers from Curtin University, Geoscience Australia, and Scripps Institute of Oceanography, in exploring the Ningaloo Canyons in the Indian Ocean. They were able to complete 20 dives at a depth of 14,700 feet using an underwater robot – ROV SuBastian. It took over 181 hours of exploration, and discovered several unique underwater species.

The Pigeon Express

They collected the first giant hydroids in Australia, observed for the very first time in Western Australia the bioluminescent Taning’s octopus squid, a long tailed seas cucumber, and other molluscs, a barnacle and squat lobster species. They also discovered large communities of glass sponges in Cape Range Canyon. Some of the species collected will be showcased at the Western Australian Museum.

But it goes without saying that the star of the expedition was the largest specimen of the giant siphonophore Apolemia ever recorded, and posted on the Twitter account of the Schmidt Ocean Institute. Wilson said, “We suspected these deep sea areas would be diverse but we have been blown away by the significance of what we have seen.” Dr. Lisa Kirkendale, head of aquatic zoology at the Western Australian Museum added, “These specimens represent so many extensions in depth and range records for so many species, and will form an important new part of WA Museum collections.”

The Falkor which is owned and operated by Schmidt Ocean Institute, is the only year-round seagoing philanthropic research vessel in the world. It is equipped with ROV SuBastian, a state-of-the-art underwater robotic system, which can function at depths of 4,500 meters. They can go to areas whose depths have not been explored before. The scientists agree to make their discoveries publicly available, and the vessel and ROV are available to the international science community at no cost.

Wendy Schmidt, co-founder of the Schmidt Ocean Institute, says, “There is so much we don’t know about the deep sea, and there are countless species never before seen.” She goes on to add, “ Our planet is deeply interconnected, what happens in the deep sea impacts life on land – and vice versa. This research is vital to advance our understanding of that connection – and the importance of protecting these fragile ecosystems. The Ningaloo Canyons are just one of many vast underwater wonders we are about to discover that can help us better understand our planet.”

The research team will formally describe many of the new species found, and develop more ROV methodology for monitoring Marine Parks in Australia. They will also screen deep water samples for environmental DNA in the Indian Ocean. The dives were livestreamed and are available in perpetuity on Schmidt Ocean Institute’s YouTube page, including video highlights. The footage and specimens are important records within the Gascoyne Marine Park, and serve as a record of the biodiversity in the canyons to build on in the future.

Dr. James Findlay, directors of Australia’s National Parks, has been closely monitoring the Falkor expedition. “Ongoing scientific exploration is vital to the effective management of our marine parks, and we are committed to partnering with other agencies to record and monitor these precious places,” he stated.

The deep sea holds many mysteries to unravel, many incredible creatures to yet discover. The 150-foot siphonophore may not even be the largest out there. Who knows what scientists and explorers will come across next.

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