New Creatures from the Deep

In a recent joint expedition between the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) and the University of Aberdeen, to one of the deepest parts of the Pacific Ocean, scientists turned up something fishy: Numerous rare species of fish, as well as some new to science – including the oddly named eelpout. Aboard the RV Kaharoa, the team travelled to the Kermadec Islands and the Kermadec Trench, which plunges over 10,047m below the ocean’s surface and is one of the deepest points on Earth. NIWA’s principal scientist Malcolm Clark said: “The results from this deep exploration enable us to better assess potential risks to the ecosystem from future climate change and even human activities which may include seabed mining.” Samples of the specimens will be housed at Te Papa.