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International survey identified rare organisms in deep and little-studied ocean regions, including species with unusual nicknames, unique biological structures, and records that still depend on formal scientific validation.
Scientists from The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census recorded 1,121 previously unknown marine species in one year, in an international survey aimed at mapping ocean life.
The report, released on May 19, 2026, indicates a 54% increase in the annual identification rate of the project, which brings together researchers and institutions from different countries.
Among the detected organisms are a chimera known as the “ghost shark”, a worm living inside a glass sponge nicknamed “glass castle”, and a carnivorous sponge called “death ball”.
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According to the Ocean Census, the discoveries were made between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026, in areas that include deep and little-studied regions.
The program reported that the species were recorded from 13 expeditions and discovery workshops conducted with support from institutions such as JAMSTEC, CSIRO, and Schmidt Ocean Institute.
The analyzed samples came from varied environments, from tropical waters to deep areas, with records at depths of up to 6,575 meters.
Marine species found at the bottom of the ocean
The chimera called “ghost shark” was located in the Coral Sea Marine Park, Australia, between 802 and 838 meters deep.
Although it receives this nickname, the animal is not a shark.
It belongs to a group related to sharks and rays, with a lineage separated about 400 million years ago, according to the description released by the Ocean Census.
In Japan, researchers identified the polychaete worm Dalhousiella yabukii, found at 791 meters deep in the Shichiyo submarine mountain range.
The organism lives in the chambers of a glass sponge, whose skeleton is formed by crystalline silica.
Due to its translucent structure, the formation received the nickname “glass castle”.
The carnivorous sponge “death ball” was confirmed in an expedition in the Southern Ocean, near the South Sandwich Islands.
The organism, treated by researchers as a possible new species of the genus Chondrocladia, was recorded at about 3,600 meters deep in one of the areas investigated in the region.
Unlike many sponges, which feed by filtration, this species has small hooks on the surface capable of trapping prey that pass through the water.
According to the researchers involved in the expedition, the animal captures organisms like crustaceans and then envelops them to feed.
Another finding highlighted by the Ocean Census is a ribbon worm found in Timor-Leste, in shallow waters, between 1 and 5 meters deep.
The animal is less than 3 centimeters and has orange stripes.
According to the project’s description, this coloration may function as a visual signal associated with chemical defenses common in organisms of this group.
Discovery of species may take years until official registration
The number released by the Ocean Census does not mean that all species already have a formal scientific name.
The organization differentiates “discovered” species from “described” species.
The first classification occurs when specialists evaluate morphological, ecological, or genetic characteristics and indicate that the organism probably had not yet been recorded by science.
Formal description requires additional steps, such as scientific publication, a valid name, and the deposit of reference material in a recognized collection.
This process is considered necessary by taxonomists because it establishes the official record of the species and allows it to be cited accurately in research, public policies, and conservation actions.
According to the Ocean Census, the average interval between the initial discovery and the formal description of a species is 13.5 years.
To reduce this timeframe, the project created the Ocean Census NOVA platform, which allows data to be recorded in open access before the completion of all traditional taxonomic steps.
The network associated with the platform brings together more than 1,400 taxonomists and scientists from 660 institutions in 85 countries.
The proposal, according to the project, is to make information available more quickly to researchers, environmental managers, and authorities responsible for ocean-related policies.
Michelle Taylor, head of science at Ocean Census, stated that the documentation of marine life occurs in a scenario of risk for many species.
In a statement, she said that researchers are in a “race against time” to understand and protect organisms that may disappear before being formally recorded.
Oceans continue with poorly documented biodiversity
The ocean covers more than 70% of the Earth’s surface and much of its biodiversity remains without formal description.
The Ocean Census estimates that up to 90% of ocean species have yet to be identified by science, a fact used by the project to justify the expansion of expeditions and specialized databases.
This lack of knowledge makes it difficult to assess environmental impacts in poorly studied areas.
International scientific reports associate changes in the ocean, such as warming, acidification, and oxygen loss, with effects on marine organisms at different levels of the food chain.
Pollution from land-based sources, including industrial waste, sewage, plastics, and agricultural runoff, also appears among the pressure factors on coastal and marine ecosystems.
Deep-sea mining is another topic monitored by researchers and environmental authorities.
The International Seabed Authority reports that it has not yet approved commercial mineral exploitation in international seabed areas but maintains exploration contracts and discusses rules for potential commercial activity.
In this debate, scientific organizations point out the need for more data on deep environments before regulatory decisions.
Scientific data help marine protection policies
For the researchers of the Ocean Census, accelerating the recognition of species serves a function beyond the biological inventory.
Taxonomic information helps guide environmental studies, define priority protection areas, and measure possible effects of human activities in regions where biodiversity is still poorly documented.
The project states that the 1,121 detected species feed databases that can be used by international initiatives aimed at marine conservation.
Among them are the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Treaty, aimed at protecting life on the high seas, and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which aims to expand protected areas by 2030.
Oliver Steeds, director of the Ocean Census, compared global investments in space exploration to the cost of mapping marine life.
According to him, discovering most of the life in the ocean costs a fraction of the resources applied in the search for life beyond Earth, and the question is “whether we can afford not to do it.”
The discoveries indicate that species still without scientific names remain outside databases, applied research, and protection policies.
In deep and hard-to-reach areas, the distance between what has already been observed and what still needs to be described remains one of the main challenges for marine science.
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