THIS is the incredible moment an unknown deep-sea squid was seen carrying translucent eggs, leading experts to discover clues to a new species.
The impressive deep-sea squid first captured researchers’ fascination when it was recorded cradling giant eggs in 2015 – something they had never seen before.
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The incredible footage was taken in the Gulf of California, with the squid initially considered part of the Gonatidae family.
Nearly a decade later, researchers believe this is an unknown species that was discovered through a series of clues in images.
Deep-sea squid are vital in ocean food chains. They are important predators that devour fish and invertebrates, such as worms, in the intervening waters.
In turn, they are devoured by beings much larger than themselves, such as large fish, sharks, whales, dolphins, seals and sea birds.
Despite being extremely important both ecologically and economically, these 10-limbed creatures are still a mystery to researchers, especially the unknown species captured in the images.
The fascinating clues
The 1.5-inch-wide eggs initially made experts think the beast was not a typical deep-sea squid.
Suspicions were confirmed when old Gonatus squid sightings reported eggs half the size of those in the footage, just 0.25 inch wide.
The lack of eggs – estimated at fewer than 40 – also confused researchers.
In comparison, normal Gonatus squid carry considerably more, with some in the past hatching up to 3,000 eggs at a time.
Squid are also rarely seen alive in such a cold and dark environment.
The mere depth at which the sea squid was caught revealed important indications that it was not a known species.
A deep-sea squid protecting its eggs after laying is an extremely rare sight, experts say, as the process can lead to the death of mothers due to the eggs hatching.
Steven Haddock, senior scientist and expedition leader at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, said: “Our unexpected encounter with a squid hatching giant eggs caught the attention of everyone in the ship’s control room.”
“This remarkable sighting highlights the diversity of ways in which animals adapt to the unique challenges of living at depth.”
Mystery of the deep sea – how only a fraction of deep-sea creatures are believed to have been discovered
Oceans and water make up about 71 percent of the Earth’s surface, with almost all of this area untouched by humans.
This has resulted in millions of marine life remaining unknown.
Scientists predict that up to two million different species swim in the ocean, with only 250,000 of them found so far, says the World Register of Marine Species.
Some of the strangest creatures ever discovered include gelatinous sea cucumber “gummy squirrels,” colorful polychaete worms, transparent pink fantasies, Christmas tree worms, and even a large group of leafy sea dragons.
Part of the huge problem stems from the research team’s poor ability to search the ocean floor due to its depth in some parts of the world.
Zero visibility at depth and extreme cold temperatures mean technology needs to catch up before the ocean can be fully explored.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
