‘Patrick’ sea star went viral, but Argentine deep-sea canyon held 57 new species
A sea cucumber with two horn-like appendages sits on the mud in the deep South Atlantic Ocean. Scientists named it Loki, after the horned Norse trickster god. Loki lives 2,577 meters (8,455 feet) below the surface, nearly eight Eiffel Towers deep. Loki (Peniagone sp.) is one of 57 species new to science that researchers identified […]
Scientists have identified 57 new species in Argentina's Mar del Plata Canyon. These discoveries were made during a two-week expedition using advanced technology. Among the newly found creatures is a sea cucumber named Loki, after the horned Norse trickster god. Loki resides at a depth of 2,577 meters (8,455 feet), which is nearly eight Eiffel Towers below the ocean's surface.
This ocean census recorded five new genera of deep-sea species. Michelle Taylor, head of science at Ocean Census, emphasized that the deep sea contains some of the least understood ecosystems on Earth. The expedition, conducted in July and August 2025, provided a live-streamed dive experience to over 4 million viewers worldwide.
One of the most notable finds was Patrick, a sea star that visually resembles SpongeBob SquarePants' character Patrick Star. This discovery highlights the vast and largely unexplored depths of the ocean.
Written by urgent.news from Mongabay's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
