At a Glance
- Scientists have officially described three new species of deep-sea snailfish found living at abyssal depths between 3,268 and 4,119 meters in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
- The species include the pink bumpy snailfish, the black dark snailfish, and the long-bodied black sleek snailfish, each distinguished by unique physical and genetic characteristics.
- Researchers used a combination of deep-sea imaging, morphological analysis with CT scans, and genetic sequencing of the COI gene to confirm that the discoveries were new to science.
- The Dark and Sleek snailfishes were collected on the same dive but are genetically and morphologically very different, highlighting the cryptic diversity that exists in deep-sea environments.
- These findings fill an important knowledge gap for the snailfish family and underscore the importance of continued exploration of the abyssal zone to document marine biodiversity.
Scientists have identified three new species of snailfish from the abyssal plains of the eastern Pacific Ocean, which thrive at depths exceeding 3,200 meters. A new paper published in the journal Ichthyology and Herpetology details the discovery, which resulted from a collaboration between researchers at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) and universities, including the State University of New York at Geneseo. The findings highlight the hidden biodiversity in one of Earth’s least-explored environments and the power of combining advanced technology with expert analysis to uncover it.
The newly described species are the bumpy snailfish (Careproctus colliculi), the dark snailfish (Careproctus yanceyi), and the sleek snailfish (Paraliparis em). The bumpy snailfish, observed by an MBARI remotely operated vehicle, is identified by its pink color and bumpy texture. The other two species, both black, were collected on the same submersible dive but are distinctly different. The dark snailfish has a rounded head and a suction disk on its belly for gripping surfaces, while the sleek snailfish has a long, compressed body, an angled jaw, and lacks a suction disk entirely.
Confirming these animals as a new species required a multi-faceted scientific approach. Researchers combined high-resolution imaging from deep-sea vehicles with detailed morphological analysis, which involves studying the physical characteristics of an organism. They employed techniques such as micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) scanning to create 3D models of the fish’s skeletons. This was paired with genetic analysis, where scientists sequenced a specific gene called mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), a “barcode” that helps differentiate species. The unique genetic codes and physical traits proved all three were previously unknown to science.
These discoveries are significant because they help fill a major sampling gap for the snailfish family (Liparidae) in the deep Pacific and highlight their importance in abyssal ecosystems. The abyssal zone refers to the pitch-black, high-pressure environment of the deep seafloor below 4,000 meters. By revealing this “cryptic diversity”—species that may appear similar but are genetically distinct—the research highlights the significant knowledge gaps that remain about life in the deep sea and underscores the need for continued exploration.
References
- Gerringer, M. E., Suplicz, S., Palmeri, J. L., Fregosi, L., Woodworth, B. H., McMahon, E., Shepard, S., Peoples, L. M., & Drazen, J. C. (2025). Descriptions of three newly discovered abyssal snailfishes (Liparidae) from the eastern pacific ocean. Ichthyology & Herpetology, 113(3), 487–506. https://doi.org/10.1643/i2024069
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. (2025, September 8). Advanced underwater technology reveals a new species of deep-sea snailfish. Phys.Org; Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. https://phys.org/news/2025-09-advanced-underwater-technology-reveals-species.html
