Scientists have discovered a new predator hiding in the Atacama Trench

3.7 to 6.8 miles deep, to the world Add belts— Named after Hades, the Greek god of the underworld, are the deepest parts of the oceans. Marine biologists have now discovered a predator adapted to thrive in these black, crushing high-pressure depths.

Researchers at Chile’s Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI) and Instituto Milenio de Oceanografía (IMO) have discovered one of the first large, active predatory amphipods ever documented in the world’s salt marshes, their findings are detailed in a study published Nov. 27 in the journal in Systematics and biodiversitydiscover a never-before-seen species from an iconic yet mysterious region once thought uninhabitable.

Although the word “predator” probably conjures up images of large, terrifying creatures, Dulcibella camanchaca According to the study, the 1.58-inch-long (4-centimeter) crab-like crustacean belongs to the same classification as sandflies, but it has specialized predatory appendages that it uses to hunt prey, mostly smaller amphipods, in the Atacama Trench. : Also known as the Peru-Chile Trench, it runs along the coasts of both countries and in certain areas is more than 4.97 miles (8 kilometers) deep.

“Dulcibella camanchaca is a fast-swimming predator that we named ‘darkness’ in the languages ​​of the peoples of the Andean region to refer to the deep, dark ocean from which it originated,” said Johanna Weston of WHOI, who led the study statement.

D. camanchaca discovered during the 2023 Integrated Deep Ocean Observing System (IDOOS) expedition led by IMO scientists. The team collected four amphipods of the species using a lander (a mechanical platform that transports equipment from the ocean’s surface to its depths) that lifted them to the water’s surface 4 .91 miles deep.Researchers froze four crustacean specimens on board before arriving at Concepcion University conducting morphological and genetic analyses.

“Most interestingly, the DNA and morphology data show that this species is also a new genus, highlighting the Atacama Trench as an endemic hotspot,” Weston added species that are found exclusively in a particular region.

Although the Hadal zones may seem uninhabitable, these harsh marine landscapes are home to dozens of species, and each new creature discovered provides insight into how these animals evolved and lived in such extreme environments, according to researchers , the Atacama Trench hosts a particularly unique ecosystem because of its remoteness from other arid zones.

“The joint effort and integrative approach of this study was confirmed Dulcibella camanchaca as a new species and highlights the ongoing discoveries of biodiversity in the Atacama Trench. This discovery underscores the importance of continued deep ocean exploration, especially in Chile’s front yard,” said Carolina González of the IMO, who also led the study that we continue to explore the Atacama Trench.”

Ultimately, the researchers emphasize, a better understanding of deep-ocean ecosystems allows scientists to better conserve them, especially from threats such as climate change. It remains to be seen when the next small predator will shed more light on these mysterious marine regions. :