Deepest Fish Ever Captured on Camera off Japan's Seabed
At an astonishing depth of 8,336 meters, or over 27,000 feet, a team of scientists from the University of Western Australia and Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology has successfully captured footage of what is believed to be the deepest fish ever recorded. The incredible feat was accomplished by sea robots in deep trenches off Japan's coast.
The discovery marks a significant milestone for marine biologists, who have been studying the habits and habitats of snailfish - members of the Liparidae family - in the depths of the Pacific Ocean. While most snailfish inhabit shallow waters, some species have adapted to survive at extreme depths, pushing the boundaries of what is thought possible.
According to Alan Jamieson, founder of the Minderoo-UWA Deep Sea Research Centre and lead scientist on the expedition, "What is significant here is that it shows how far a particular type of fish will descend in the ocean." The footage, captured last September using high-resolution cameras attached to automatic sea robots called landers, reveals a young snailfish hovering calmly alongside other crustaceans on the seabed.
The two snailfish caught by scientists at an incredible depth of 8,022 meters are believed to be juveniles that stay as deep as possible to avoid being eaten by predators that swim in shallower waters. The fish, identified as Pseudoliparis belyaevi, possess unique features that aid their survival in the extreme environment. These include tiny eyes and a translucent body, as well as a lack of swim bladder, which helps other fish float.
The discovery is part of a 10-year study into the deepest fish populations in the world, with scientists from both institutions conducting research in three trenches off Japan - the Japan Trench, Izu-Ogasawara Trench, and Ryukyu Trench. While cost is a significant constraint for such endeavors, the potential rewards are well worth the investment.
"The challenges are that technology has been expensive and scientists don't have a lot of money," Jamieson noted. The cost of assembling and operating each lander alone amounts to $200,000. However, as Dr. Jamieson pointed out, "the Pacific Ocean is particularly conducive to vibrant activity due to its warm southern current... providing an abundance of marine life that supports the incredible diversity we see here."
The discovery highlights the vast unknowns still existing in our oceans and underscores the importance of continued research into the deepest depths of the sea.
At an astonishing depth of 8,336 meters, or over 27,000 feet, a team of scientists from the University of Western Australia and Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology has successfully captured footage of what is believed to be the deepest fish ever recorded. The incredible feat was accomplished by sea robots in deep trenches off Japan's coast.
The discovery marks a significant milestone for marine biologists, who have been studying the habits and habitats of snailfish - members of the Liparidae family - in the depths of the Pacific Ocean. While most snailfish inhabit shallow waters, some species have adapted to survive at extreme depths, pushing the boundaries of what is thought possible.
According to Alan Jamieson, founder of the Minderoo-UWA Deep Sea Research Centre and lead scientist on the expedition, "What is significant here is that it shows how far a particular type of fish will descend in the ocean." The footage, captured last September using high-resolution cameras attached to automatic sea robots called landers, reveals a young snailfish hovering calmly alongside other crustaceans on the seabed.
The two snailfish caught by scientists at an incredible depth of 8,022 meters are believed to be juveniles that stay as deep as possible to avoid being eaten by predators that swim in shallower waters. The fish, identified as Pseudoliparis belyaevi, possess unique features that aid their survival in the extreme environment. These include tiny eyes and a translucent body, as well as a lack of swim bladder, which helps other fish float.
The discovery is part of a 10-year study into the deepest fish populations in the world, with scientists from both institutions conducting research in three trenches off Japan - the Japan Trench, Izu-Ogasawara Trench, and Ryukyu Trench. While cost is a significant constraint for such endeavors, the potential rewards are well worth the investment.
"The challenges are that technology has been expensive and scientists don't have a lot of money," Jamieson noted. The cost of assembling and operating each lander alone amounts to $200,000. However, as Dr. Jamieson pointed out, "the Pacific Ocean is particularly conducive to vibrant activity due to its warm southern current... providing an abundance of marine life that supports the incredible diversity we see here."
The discovery highlights the vast unknowns still existing in our oceans and underscores the importance of continued research into the deepest depths of the sea.
they finally captured footage of a fish from the DEEPEST part of the ocean... 8,336 meters!!! 
that's like, deeper than mt everest is tall lol! 
and it's a snailfish, which is already super cool just by being so tiny & deep-adapted. 
the fact that they got to see these little guys living in their element is honestly giving me LIFE 
like how do these little fish even survive with no swim bladder? 
i mean, who needs superheroes when you have snailfish doing deep-sea acrobatics? 
seriously though, this discovery is huge for marine biologists and we're just lucky to be along for the ride 
keep exploring those depths, scientists! 
. I mean, 27,000 feet deep? That's like, whoa, right? But then again, have we really explored that depth yet? Probably not 
.
. I know it's expensive to explore the ocean, but can't we get some government funding or something? 
.
. I guess it also makes you realize how much we have to learn about our oceans and the creatures that call them home 
. these scientists are basically just throwing money into the abyss for us lol.
