From bizarre fish found in the Mariana Trench to deep sea mystery of one of the oldest fish on earth, these are 10 WEIRD sea discoveries !
Underwater River -- Known as the Cenote (say-no-tay) Angelita Cave, this so-called underwater river can only be accessed by skilled divers. It�s located on the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, and was formed over 6500 years ago, after a
Manganese (manga-knees) Balls -- In 2015, scientists exploring the Atlantic Ocean were surprised to discover a huge patch of metal balls, some as small as golf balls, with others approximately the size of bowling balls. Turns out the metal balls are actually nodules made of manganese, and are commonly found in the Pacific, not the Atlantic. Scientists noted another difference � the nodules found in the Pacific usually have a flatter shape, while the ones from the Atlantic were very circular. Found at depths of 18000 feet, the nodules are thought to be 10 million years old � but their origin remains a mystery.
The Churro Worm -- Four new species of an undersea creature were found 12000 feet underwater off the California coast. Called Xenoturbella (zen-ott-er-bella), they are fuschia colored flatworm-like creatures found on a whale carcass as well as on hydrothermal vents. One of the new species was christened �Xenoturbella Churro�, due to its resemblance to the Spanish fried-dough pastry. The four-inch long animal may have another claim to fame: It, along with its fellow species, could be related to us. In 2003, scientists at Cambridge claimed that Xenoturbella might share DNA with humans.
Benthic (ben-tik) Comb Jelly -- Found within Japan�s Ryukyu (ree-you-kyou) Trench at an incredible depth of over 23,000 feet (7200 meters), this is the deepest dwelling known ctenophore (ten-uh-fur). The gelatinous organism can measure up to 8 cm wide and up to 20 cm long, and can attach itself to the ocean floor using two long filaments. Prior to its discovery in 2002, many scientists didn�t think it was possible for similar life forms to exist at such extreme depths, because food resources would be so scarce. The very existence of this animal suggests that there�s still much of the region�s ecosystem that remains unknown.
Grand Underwater Canyon -- Named Zhemchug (gem-kug) Canyon, this huge underwater formation is located in the middle of the Bering Sea. Also defined as a submarine canyon, or a steep sided valley carved into the sea floor of the continental shelf, Zhemchug (gem-kug) is the largest such formation in the world � and reaching a depth of 8530 ft (2.6 km), it�s deeper than the Grand Canyon, with its deepest point being 6000 feet. The underwater canyon provides an important habitat to a wide range of ocean wildlife, including the Northern Fur Seal and many species of whale.
Deep Diving Fish -- In 2010, marine biologists discovered a new type of snailfish almost 23,000 feet deep in the southeast Pacific Ocean. That�s nearly 4.5 miles below the ocean�s surface! In addition, groups of large crustacean scavengers and eels were found in the Peru-Chile trench of the ocean, which runs over 3600 miles and can reach depths of 26,000 feet. One of the deepest locations on earth, the area was previously thought to be completely free of fish. These discoveries might indicate there are thousands more unknown marine animals existing at extreme depths in the world�s oceans. In fact, a new species of snailfish was discovered in 2014 at a depth of over 26,000 feet by researchers using a remote operated vehicle while exploring the Mariana Trench in the Pacific.
The Greater Barrier Reef -- The eastern coast of Australia is famous for the Great Barrier Reef � but now there may be a bigger, more spectacular reef on the south coast of the country. Take a look at some of these stunning pictures, and you can understand the excitement. Using a remote operated vehicle, researchers in 2015 explored depths up to 100 meters at Wilsons Promontory National Park in Victoria, Australia. Boulders the size of houses, and spectacular sponge gardens were some of the discoveries made ... along with coral fans and huge sea whips. Among the abundant fish species encountered were Australian barracudas, Longsnout Boarfish, and large schools of deep sea perch, known to grow over 2.5 feet long (80 cm). Park officials planned to analyze more footage to determine areas that might be safest for scuba divers.
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