31 New Deep-Sea Species Documented with Cutting-Edge Imaging

Researchers aboard Schmidt Ocean Institute’s Falkor used three advanced imaging systems on the ROV SuBastian to observe midwater life off Brazil’s coast, documenting 31 previously unknown species—ranging from amphipods and jellyfish to siphonophores and comb jellies—without disturbing them. By employing DeepPIV, EyeRIS, and a shadowgraph camera, the team confirmed these new species in days, revealing far greater midwater diversity than expected and showcasing non-invasive methods for documenting fragile deep-sea life.