DNA and underwater footage reveal two new species of deep-sea siphonophores
New research is shedding light on the diversity of deep-sea siphonophores. A team of scientists from MBARI, the University of Gdańsk, New York University and Yale University conducted a comprehensive examination of Bargmannia siphonophores using museum material, submersible observations and genomic sequencing. This work uncovered two previously unknown species: Bargmannia marlena and Bargmannia…
Scientists have discovered two new species of deep-sea siphonophores, Bargmannia marlena and Bargmannia pyrosa, using a combination of DNA analysis, museum specimens, underwater footage, and genomic sequencing. The research, conducted by a team from MBARI, the University of Gdańsk, New York University, and Yale University, sheds light on the diversity of deep-sea siphonophores, which are elongate gelatinous animals related to jellies and corals that serve as dominant predators in the midwater of the ocean.
Despite their abundance and ecological importance, siphonophores are challenging to study due to their elusive nature. The study involved the examination of museum material, submersible observations, and genomic sequencing, which led to the identification of seven species in MBARI's video archive and an eighth species from museum collections.
The newly discovered species, B. marlena and B. pyrosa, have unique characteristics such as stretchy orange stomachs and fiery red bodies, respectively. The two species belong to two different evolutionary lineages and have depth-structured distributions, highlighting how species evolve across a three-dimensional aquatic environment.
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