Fifty-seven new marine animals found in Argentine deep sea
Taxonomists identified species and five new genera from samples taken from a deep-sea canyon off the Argentine coast.
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An international group of taxonomists has identified 57 marine species and five new genera in samples from the Mar del Plata Submarine Canyon. The samples came from an expedition in 2025; the identification took place this year during a workshop in Buenos Aires.
The workshop was organised by Ocean Census and the Schmidt Ocean Institute, together with Argentine research institutions. Twenty taxonomists and young researchers from Latin America and Europe examined deep-sea samples from 13 to 24 July 2026.
The species found include copepods, sea cucumbers, crinoids, corals and other cnidarians. According to the organisers, twenty new species of copepods, 22 echinoderms, fourteen cnidarians and one mollusc were identified.
One of the most notable finds is a sea cucumber nicknamed Loki because of its horn-like projections. The animal was filmed at a depth of about 2,577 metres. The researchers also describe five new scientific genera, including groups within corals, sea cucumbers and crustaceans.
The results are based on material collected in July and August 2025 using the research vessel Falkor and the remotely operated submersible SuBastian. The expedition was followed live by a large audience at the time, but the new species were only distinguished later by taxonomists.
The fact that a species has been newly identified does not automatically mean that it has already been formally described in a scientific journal and given a definitive name. The researchers report that some categories still require genetic analysis. Formal descriptions and naming may also follow.
The find highlights how little of the deep sea has been biologically mapped. The Argentine institutions want to place the samples in national collections. For scientists, these collections are important for comparing species again later and for investigating which ecosystems need protection.
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The discovery has been confirmed by the Schmidt Ocean Institute and CONICET. The text carefully distinguishes between identification during a workshop and formal scientific naming.
- confirmed Fifty-seven new marine species and five new genera have been identified. — Reported by the Schmidt Ocean Institute and CONICET. source
- confirmed The workshop took place from 13 to 24 July 2026 in Buenos Aires. — Mentioned in the Schmidt Ocean Institute's press release. source
- confirmed The sea cucumber Loki was found at a depth of about 2,577 metres. — Mentioned in the Schmidt Ocean Institute's species description. source
- uncertain Not all the finds have yet been formally described and named. — The sources report that genetic analysis and formal description are still needed for some finds; the full status of each species has not been published. source
Editor's note
The figures come from the organisers and the Argentine research institutions. The formal taxonomic status of all 57 species is not identical; for that reason, a distinction has been made between identification and definitive description.Sources
- 57 New Marine Species Discovered in Argentina’s Submarine Canyons — Schmidt Ocean Institute
- Descubren 57 nuevas especies en los cañones submarinos de Argentina — CONICET Rosario
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