10 Unknown Animals Found off Antarctica

by நவீன் Wed Jul 21, 2010 9:27 am

A large survey of Antarctic life was
conducted back in year 2008 by scientist all over the world. New
Zealand’s National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research played a
key role in this survey. They and other researchers collected 30,000
sea creatures—many new to science—during a 35-day census in Antarctic
waters in February and March. The large-scale survey was part of the
International Polar Year and Census of Antarctic Marine Life programs,
which study the diversity of Antarctic marine life. Of many new species
discovered, prior unknown to man, we are presenting ten.

This 19 inch long creature may be
tunicate or a sea-squirt, say scientists. This mysterious animal was
found floating 7218 feet below water surface in the Ross Sea off
southern Antarctica.

10 Unknown Animals Found off Antarctica 47543119948a432f40cd

by நவீன் Wed Jul 21, 2010 9:29 am

This is, what scientist say, a 9.8 inch long sea spider found in Ross
Sea shelf in southern Antarctica. Cold temperatures, few predators, and
high levels of oxygen in seawater could explain their gargantuan size,
Don Robertson of New Zealand’s National Institute of Water and
Atmospheric Research told the Associated Press.

10 Unknown Animals Found off Antarctica 47543120644f6180f944

by நவீன் Wed Jul 21, 2010 9:30 am

A unique type of starfish, that looks like a sack, measuring 24 inch in
length was discovered by New Zealand’s National Institute of Water and
Atmospheric Research on February 15, 2008.

10 Unknown Animals Found off Antarctica 4753670715c535a6eab7

by நவீன் Wed Jul 21, 2010 9:30 am

This is a totally new species. It measures 2.5 inch across the heard and up to 39 inch in length

10 Unknown Animals Found off Antarctica 47536707895bb34083df

by நவீன் Wed Jul 21, 2010 9:31 am

They call it the Antarctic Octopus and it was marked as the 18th
octopus species ever found. This octopus was found at the depth of 3280
feet.

10 Unknown Animals Found off Antarctica 47536706514a28949432

by நவீன் Wed Jul 21, 2010 9:32 am

The call it stareater, also discovered in 2008. This fish has very soft
skin that was damaged by the net (see pic below). The fish generates
red light and lures its prey towards it. Once the prey is in striking
distance, the sharp, needle-like and curved teeth give no second chance
to it. The fish belongs to Stomiidae family and grows up to a size of
8.3 inch.

10 Unknown Animals Found off Antarctica 47536708670658c66e5c

by நவீன் Wed Jul 21, 2010 9:32 am

This is a new type of daggertooth, and according to scientist the
southernmost daggertooth ever found. The fish has sapphire blue eyes
along with a long mouth containing curved teeth to immobilize prey,
clamping down and pulling back to tear through and paralyze the
victim’s spine.

10 Unknown Animals Found off Antarctica 475431249093a195a5da

by நவீன் Wed Jul 21, 2010 9:33 am

This species is called amphipod and was first discovered in year 2004
by Antarctic research ship Tangaroa. This crustacean looks like a
shrimp and was collected from a depth of 985 feet from the same
location in year 2008.

10 Unknown Animals Found off Antarctica 4754312594d7b2957a2a

by நவீன் Wed Jul 21, 2010 9:34 am

High-powered cameras photographed this sea star or a starfish of the
genus Labediaster (lower left) surrounded by brittle stars on a
seamount 492 feet (150 meters) below the surface of Antarctica’s Ross
Sea.