An expedition to survey the hidden depths around Christmas Island and the Cocos ( Keeling ) Islands has retrovert with some awe-inspiring finds . A team , led by Museums Victoria Research Institute , Australia , set out from Darwin on September 30 for a 35 - day voyage on the research watercraft ( RV ) Investigator , operated by the Australian national scientific discipline agency CSIRO .
As well as using a multibeam echosounder to complete the firsthigh - resolution mapof the region ’s ocean floor , the expedition aimed to perform an extensive study of biodiversity in the expanse .
“ The big range of research capableness offered by RV Investigator will again be on show during this ocean trip with scientific data accumulate both above and below the wave of the Indian Ocean , from high into the atmosphere all the way down to abyssal depths of more than 5,000 metres [ 16,404 feet ] . These data will be vital for increase our understanding of this remote and of import region of Australia ’s ocean territory , ” say Toni Moate , Director of the CSIRO Marine National Facility , in astatement .
Dr Tim O’Hara , Chief Scientist and Senior Curator , Marine Invertebrates at Museums Victoria , has suggestedthat up to a third of the marine species that the squad has receive may be brand - new to science . As Museums Victoria older collections coach Dianne Bray enjoin theAustralian Broadcasting Corporation , “ Life in the deep sea is so poorly acknowledge that it really is a golden magnetic inclination . ”
pronounce by some of the dazzling discovery that have been deal on societal media , it looks as though this inclination into the unknown has been very favorable indeed . Here are some of the highlight .
First up , we have this endearing walking batfish ( look at the little face ! ) . As the name suggests , these Guy are not the proficient bather , so they use their fins like branch towalk along the sea floor .
Upping the super - cute stake even further is the charming sponge crab .
Talking of crabs , the squad found this otherworldlyhermit crabusing a squidgy coral called a zoanthid as its shell .
And if that was n’t bizarre enough , take a spirit at thesedeep - seafish that were recuperate from 500 molar concentration ( 1,640 feet ) below the airfoil .
It was n’t all denizens of the deep . Theresearchersalso captured these stunning guessing offlying Pisces .
However , the trophy for the most impressive specimen of all may have to go to ( drumroll please ) … thetripod spiderfish .
Not much is lie with about these deep - ocean habitant . They apply their elongated louvre irradiation to prop themselves up on the ocean story , simply waiting for the small crustaceans that they feed on to come up to them . sound like the character of lifestyle we could get behind .
The expedition may have come to an end , but the study of the scientific samples hoard is just beginning . As Director and CEO of Museums Victoria Lynley Crosswell said before the team set out , “ The enquiry outcomes from this voyage will be invaluable to our understanding of Australia ’s cryptic - ocean environments and the impact humans are having on them . ”
you’re able to see more discovery from this and former RV Investigator expeditions using the hashtag#rvinvestigator .
