Four new species of single-celled organisms have been discovered in the deep Pacific.
Single-cell xenophores were found by researchers at the National Center for Oceanography in the United Kingdom, the University of Hawaii, and the University of Geneva in Switzerland.
The species was discovered using an underwater drone in the western Clarion Clipperton area, where the seafloor is more than 3 miles deep. The specimens, which were collected in 2018, were analyzed to reveal the new species.
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The findings were published in the European Journal of Protistology.
A specimen of Abyssalia, a new genus of foraminifera.
(Slim Chraiti, University of Geneva).
The discovery involves four new species and two new genera. A genre has been called “Moanammina” after “Moana”, the Hawaiian word for ocean. The other was called “Abyssalia” because of the environment similar to the “abyss” where it was discovered.
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“We were excited to find these beautiful new xenophophors,” Andrew Gooday, NOC professor and lead author of the study, said in a statement. “Xenophophors are one of the most common types of large organisms found in the abyssal plains of CCZ, so the second genus name was chosen to reflect this.”
“The abundance and diversity of these giant single-celled organisms is truly amazing!” Oceanographer Craig Smith of the UH Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology said in the statement.
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The oceans continue to reveal their secrets. In a separate study published earlier this year, scientists announced the discovery of a 10-cell creature that can survive without oxygen. The parasite is related to jellyfish and corals.
Fox News’ David Aaro contributed to this article. Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers
