Ocean Census Discovers 1,121 New Ocean Species, From Glass-Walled Worms to Ghost Sharks

The Ocean Census reports 1,121 previously unknown ocean species discovered since last April, highlighting deep-sea biodiversity through findings such as a glass-shelled worm living in a glass sponge off Japan, ghost sharks, unknown rays and catsharks, ping-pong ball sponges, and sea pens. However, many of these discoveries have not yet been formally described as new species, a process that can take years, underscoring how much we still don't know about Earth's biodiversity.