Scientists Discover Over A Thousand New Ocean Species In Landmark Deep Sea Exploration

InnovationScienceScientists Discover Over A Thousand New Ocean Species In Landmark Deep Sea ExplorationByMelissa Cristina Márquez,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Márquez is a marine scientist and science communicatorFollow AuthorMay 18, 2026, 07:15pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.Often called "ghost sharks," Chimaeras are among the most mysterious inhabitants of the deep ocean. Distant relatives of sharks and rays, they diverged into a distinct evolutionary lineage nearly 400 million years ago - predating the dinosaurs. CSIRO ichthyologist Dr William White discovered the new species during the 2025 Ocean Census expedition to the Coral Sea Marine Park, in partnership with CSIRO and supported by Parks Australia & Bushblitz.The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census/CSIRO What is still out there in the deep ocean, beyond the reach of sunlight, beyond the places we routinely map, sample or even imagine? For most of human history, the answer to this question (or questions) has been speculation stitched together from rare expeditions and fragmented data. Afterall, deep sea science is not cheap! But now, thanks to advances in technology and philantrophic and scientific expeditions that have deeper pockets than ever before, that picture is starting to sharpen in ways that are both exhilarating and unsettling. In a landmark year for ocean science, researchers working through the Ocean Census initiative have identified 1,121 previously unknown marine species. Thirteen expeditions and nine dedicated discovery workshops brought together scientists from across the globe, accelerating what has traditionally been a slow and painstaking process into something closer to a coordinated scientific sprint.So what does it mean when we say “new species” in a place we have barely explored? In some cases, it means creatures that look like...