Researchers from New Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research have discovered hundreds of potentially new species. Part of the International Polar Year survey program, the critters were hauled up from the briny depths around Antarctica. Among the 30,000 once living beings now in formaldehyde are huge sea spiders, jellyfish with 12-foot tentacles, enormous sea snails and starfish. The expedition was also made into a documentary entitled DeepStar Six...
Giant Macroptychaster sea star measuring 60 cm across
Antarctic toothfish (1.81 m long, 57 kg)
CR McClain from Deep Sea News tells us that this woman led the expedition.
The expedition ended memorably.
Credit to Mark Devlin for making us get off our lazy asses and post this.
Life Science
Environment
Comments
And I thought I was the only one who remembered Deep Star Six...
Posted by: Laelaps | March 21, 2008 6:22 PM
20 points for the Deep Star Six reference. The Australian Trumpet Shell (although I can never figure out if you guys are just being cheeky) is not from the expedition. Rather its from Australia and Indonesia and just a cool, and very large, gastropod. Perhaps post wasn't clear.
Posted by: CR McClain | March 21, 2008 7:16 PM
Looks like we inspired Brian Switek of Laelaps to dig up some awesome DeepStar Six footage. Check'r out http://scienceblogs.com/laelaps/2008/03/killer_crustaceans_from_inner.php
Posted by: Andrew | March 21, 2008 8:21 PM
Why'd they need so many samples?
It may be for research but they sound a lot like the Japanese and their whale research BS.
Posted by: Gindy | March 23, 2008 11:33 AM
You guys are great and undeniably cute as lemurs, but I do feel like you missed the weirdest critters from this research trip. I trackback because I care.
Posted by: Kate | March 24, 2008 8:24 PM