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Daily Read: Wildlife

57 New Species Found in Argentina’s Deepest Canyon

Scientists from the Schmidt Ocean Institute announced the discovery of 57 new species in the Mar Del Plata submarine canyon, located in Argentina. The canyon plunges to more than 3,500 m, nearly twice the depth of the Grand Canyon, and was explored by the remotely operated vehicle SuBastian during a 21‑day mission in August 2025. Samples were collected by the ROV and examined by a team of 20 taxonomists from Latin America and Europe under the Nippon Foundation‑Nekton Ocean Census program. The analysis confirmed 57 species, including the newly named “Loki” sea cucumber, a translucent holothurian with a horn‑shaped appendage, and several vivid orange‑red octocorals, sea pens, and a cohort of 20 copepods. Dr Martín Brogger, lead scientist, highlighted the public impact, noting that the expedition’s live footage drew 17.5 million views and inspired students to pursue marine biology. The workshop accelerated species identification and built capacity for local early‑career taxonomists. The findings underscore the deep sea’s poorly understood biodiversity and demonstrate the power of international collaboration. The report was released on October 1 2026, following the expedition’s completion.

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The essential points

  1. 0157 new species, including the ‘Loki’ sea cucumber, identified in Argentina’s Mar Del Plata canyon.
  2. 02A 21‑day ROV SuBastian mission collected samples from depths over 3,500 m.
  3. 03International workshop of 20 taxonomists confirmed 57 species, boosting local expertise.
  4. 04Live footage drew 17.5 million views, inspiring students to pursue marine biology.
The full brief

Scientists from the Schmidt Ocean Institute announced the discovery of 57 new species in the Mar Del Plata submarine canyon, located in Argentina. The canyon plunges to more than 3,500 m, nearly twice the depth of the Grand Canyon, and was explored by the remotely operated vehicle SuBastian during a 21‑day mission in August 2025. Samples were collected by the ROV and examined by a team of 20 taxonomists from Latin America and Europe under the Nippon Foundation‑Nekton Ocean Census program.

The analysis confirmed 57 species, including the newly named “Loki” sea cucumber, a translucent holothurian with a horn‑shaped appendage, and several vivid orange‑red octocorals, sea pens, and a cohort of 20 copepods. Dr Martín Brogger, lead scientist, highlighted the public impact, noting that the expedition’s live footage drew 17. 5 million views and inspired students to pursue marine biology.

The workshop accelerated species identification and built capacity for local early‑career taxonomists. The findings underscore the deep sea’s poorly understood biodiversity and demonstrate the power of international collaboration. The report was released on October 1 2026, following the expedition’s completion.