The discovery of a new species of ctenophore, a creature similar to jellyfish and baptized with the name of Duobrachium sparksae, not documented to this day, in the depths of the north coast of Puerto Rico, represents a great scientific advance and proof of the existence of multiple life forms in the oceans to be discovered.
Two scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA, in English), Mike Ford and Allen Collins, revealed to Efe this Thursday that the finding was possible thanks to the so-called Deep Discover, a remotely operated vehicle that collects high-speed video recordings. definition of the seabed.
Ctenophores, whose name means comb carriers, have specialized cells, coloblasts, that produce a sticky substance that is used to capture their prey.
They are exclusively marine creatures and so far more than 160 species had been documented, to which we must now add the NOAA finding.
“We know of many ctenophores that live in shallower waters near the coast. This discovery provides evidence that there are many different forms of gelatinous beings in the deep ocean. In terms of observational power, this discovery was made possible by video. HD configured from a remotely operated vehicle – the aforementioned Deep Discoverer – to enable and support the description we published, “Ford stressed.
Video is used for the first time
He said it is the first time a team of scientists has used high-definition video to describe a new animal species.
The research was supported by the Department of Invertebrate Zoology at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History.
The scientist highlighted that many marine species remain to be discovered and that each time new ones are characterized, a greater understanding of marine ecosystems is obtained, since species are the fundamental components and the main actors within these complex systems.
The discovery of the new species took place in 2015, although the disclosure was released by NOAA now.
Regarding why this discovery is disclosed years later, Ford clarified that to establish a new species, experts must present evidence that it is different from all others known in the scientific literature.
This involves differentiating the species from all other similar ones that have been described above and presenting information that will allow future researchers to identify the species when it is found again.
Collins, for his part, indicated that the Deep Discoverer cameras can capture high-resolution images and even measure structures of less than one millimeter.
Video provides great information
He said that, obviously, these are not laboratory microscopes, although the video provides information to know with precision shapes, location, reproductive techniques and other aspects.
He clarified that, in general, the new species are described by taking samples, taking the animals to the laboratory and doing many analyzes both under the microscope and with genetic tissue.
“We examined the high-definition video in detail and made the discovery. We did a historical review of the ctenophores and it seemed clear that it was a new species. Then we worked to place it correctly on the tree of life,” Collins said.
The new documented species has received the name of Duobrachium sparksae, after documenting that, indeed, it was not an evolutionary branch related to the comb jellyfish that crawl along the seabed, known as Platyctenida.
Regarding its characteristics, this being is about 6 centimeters tall, but with tentacles that can reach up to 30 centimeters.
The Duobrachium sparksae has a bulbous body at the top and then two very long hanging tentacles, each in turn with other sides.
Each of the tentacles could retract into a small sac within an appendix.
The temperature of the water where it was discovered was between 2.32 and 2.35 degrees Celsius and the oxygen levels measured where these animals were observed were 7.53 to 7.60 milligrams per liter.
Most cathenophores are hermaphroditic, although it was not certified in this new species.
However, the high definition video revealed round eggs (or possibly embryos).
In many ctenophores, both the ovules and the sperm are dumped into the water where fertilization and further development occur.
It was discovered about 4,000 meters deep, not far from the Puerto Rico trench, 38 kilometers (20.5 nautical miles) from Arecibo, a municipality on the north coast of the Caribbean island.
Michael Ford is an oceanographer in NOAA’s Office of Science and Technology, while Allen Collins is a research zoologist and director of NOAA’s National Systematics Laboratory, which is housed within the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History.
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