Deep-sea biodiversity off New Zealand higher than assumed

Bathydorus poculum sp. nov., holotype NIWA 126338, distribution, skeleton, and morphology A distribution in New Zealand waters B holotype in situ (scale bar approximate) C dermal (upper) and atrial (lower) sides of the preserved main part of the collected fragment D magnified area of the oscular margin, showing the atrial surface curving out over the dermal surface E dermal surface with dense prostal diactins F atrial surface with similarly dense prostal diactins. Image B captured by ROV Team GEOMAR, ROV Ki

September 22, 2021

sprep-pa

The aphotic deep sea of the Earth's oceans constitutes a unique environment. Although this habitat is of immense importance for ocean health and vital for the planet's important biogeochemical cycles, its biodiversity is, to a large extent, undocumented and poorly understood. To help close this knowledge gap, in early 2017 the German research vessel Sonne departed from Auckland (New Zealand) on a deep-sea expedition.

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