World's Deepest Living Fish - A team of international scientists have filmed the world's deepest living fish - a snailfish - about 8,145 meters below sea level at the Mariana Trench.
"This really deep fish did not look like anything we had seen before, nor does it look like anything we know of," Dr. Alan Jamieson, one of the scientists from the University of Aberdeen said. "It is unbelievably fragile, with large wing-like fins and a head resembling a cartoon dog."
The elusive tadpole-like fish was filmed with several other impressive deep sea species during a 30-day expedition to the Pacific Ocean by a team of international scientists. Using a specially-built deep sea diving vehicle, named Hadal-Lander, the scientists, who set out to study life in the deepest part of the earth, collected an unprecedented 105 hours of footage in up to 92 dives into the Mariana Trench.
Besides the snailfish, which is being labeled as the world's deepest living fish, the scientists also found other impressive specimens, including a large crustacean and a one-of-a-king 'supergiant' amphipod.
"Knowing these creatures exist is one thing, but to watch them alive in their natural habitat and interacting with other species is truly amazing, we have learnt a great deal," Dr. Jamieson said.
Interest in determining what the world's deepest living fish is grew considerably after scientists confirmed last year that indeed the Mariana Trench is home to a thriving ecosystem. Researchers say the creatures that live in these depths are considerably different from the ones in other parts of the ocean. But studies are yet to be done to determine the peculiarities of these organisms.
During the recent study that uncovered the world's deepest living fish, scientists from the University of Aberdeen and Hawaii University, took a different approach to examining the Mariana Trench. They sampled different parts of the trench before heading unto its depths.
"Many studies have rushed to the bottom of the trench but from an ecological view that is very limiting,' says Dr. Jeff Drazen, the co-chief scientist behind the study. "It's like trying to understand a mountain ecosystem by only looking at its summit."
The discovery of the world's deepest living fish has gone viral online. But commentators have questioned the implications of the find since more studies is yet to be done to understand the animal.
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