By Alistair Bates

ABC Pilbara

Topic: Oceans

Thu 11 Jun 2026 at 9:04am

Scientists found 149 new species near the Indian Ocean territories, including chunky sea stars.

In short:

Researchers found at least 149 new species in waters around Christmas and Cocos Islands.

The animals were found over five years after voyages in 2021 and 2022.

What's next?

The data will help manage Australia's remote marine parks.

More than 100 new species were recorded in Australia's territorial waters.

The creatures were found on 22 seamounts near Christmas and Cocos Islands, 3,000 km northwest of Perth.

Scientists collected 1,000 specimens over two voyages in 2021 and 2022.

Brittle stars were the most abundant creatures found.

At least 149 new species, from sea stars to worms, were unknown until now.

The environment is important, but we know little about it.

A new species of greeneye fish was found.

Some specimens were collected 5,000 meters below the surface.

Claire Rowe sorts specimens on the RV Investigator.

Deep-sea 'flower'

One new species was found at a great depth.

The annelid worm is just millimeters long and was captured 4,990 meters deep.

Translucent worms were found thousands of meters beneath the surface.

The animal has a hard shell and a feather-like tentacle.

It looks like a little flower.

It's surprising to find a firm-bodied creature so deep.

The animals managed to calcify despite the high pressure.

A new sea cucumber species was named for Mark O'Loughlin.

The seamounts' biodiversity dispels the 'endemism' theory.

The seamounts are like 'stepping stones' for deep-sea organisms.

We can find unique and common species on different seamounts.

A sponge crab was found, known for wearing marine invertebrates.

Snapshot of a world in flux

The RV Investigator's expeditions yielded many discoveries.

Scientists must prove their finds using genetic material.

The RV Investigator docked near the Cocos Islands in 2022.

The results offer important data for managing marine parks.

The trips involved mapping the sea floor.

The results give a snapshot of the deep-sea environment.

Claire Rowe says deep-sea jellyfish come in brilliant colors.

It's critical for combating human impacts in the region.

There are many threats to the marine environment.

The more we find, the more we can understand how species adapt.

Thu 11 Jun 2026 at 9:04am

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