Census of marine life new species
The Census of Marine Life (CoML) was a 10-year international research program that aimed to assess the diversity of marine life on Earth. The program was launched in 2000 and concluded in 2010. During this period, scientists from over 80 countries worked together to explore the world's oceans, discover new species, and document the distribution and abundance of marine life.
One of the key outcomes of the CoML was the discovery of numerous new species. According to the program's final report, over 2,000 new species were discovered during the 10-year period, including:
- Fish: 1,200 new species, including a new species of anglerfish, a deep-sea fish with a fleshy growth on its head that is used as a lure to attract prey.
- Invertebrates: 500 new species, including a new species of giant squid, a deep-sea cephalopod that can grow up to 13 meters (43 feet) in length.
- Mollusks: 300 new species, including a new species of giant clam, which is one of the largest bivalve mollusks in the world.
- Crustaceans: 200 new species, including a new species of deep-sea shrimp, which has a unique body shape and is found in the oxygen-poor waters of the abyssal zone.
- Microorganisms: 100 new species, including a new species of deep-sea microbe that can survive in extreme conditions, such as high temperatures and high pressures.
Some of the most notable discoveries made during the CoML include:
- The discovery of a new species of giant squid in the Gulf of Mexico, which was found to be much larger than previously thought.
- The discovery of a new species of deep-sea fish with a bioluminescent lure on its head, which was found in the Mariana Trench.
- The discovery of a new species of giant clam in the Indo-Pacific region, which was found to be one of the largest bivalve mollusks in the world.
- The discovery of a new species of deep-sea shrimp in the abyssal zone of the Atlantic Ocean, which was found to have a unique body shape and was able to survive in low-oxygen conditions.
- The discovery of a new species of microbe in the deep-sea sediments of the Pacific Ocean, which was found to be able to survive in extreme conditions, such as high temperatures and high pressures.
These discoveries highlight the vast diversity of marine life on Earth and the importance of continued exploration and research to understand the complexity of marine ecosystems.