Did you know that despite our oceans covering 71 percent of the planet, only 5 percent has been explored so far? Yes, because reaching depths of up to 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) below the surface, their dark, icy waters are subjected to extraordinary pressure – as high as 1,088 atmospheres (or 16,000 pounds per square inch). And even with so much pressure, some creatures do continue to thrive there.
A new study by researchers from the US and Chile has unveiled one such species which they name ‘Dulcibella camanchaca’. This predator from the Atacama Trench off South America's western coast stands distinct due to its ghostly appearance. As per the study, the creature is an amphipod, a species that usually eats detritus or scavenges for food in marine or freshwater habitats. The researchers discovered four individuals of this species at a depth of 7,902 meters.
According to the study authors, ‘Dulcibella camanchaca’ is the first, big active predatory amphipod found so deep, in the hadal zone. It is believed that trenches hold many valuable secrets that can be helpful to humankind. Further studying habitats like these, might also help in unlocking secrets about ocean moons like Europa or Enceladus.
D. camanchaca’s discovery is quite notable because not only the species has been previously unknown, but its morphology and DNA also suggest that this is a newly discovered genus.
Two types of amphipods are named after characters from the Spanish novel
Don Quixote. The researchers followed this tradition and named a new genus
Dulcibella, inspired by Dulcinea del Toboso, a character in the book (since the name
Dulcinea was already taken by a beetle). They gave the species the name
camanchaca, which means "darkness" in languages spoken in western South America. This name was chosen because it represents the deep, dark waters where the creature lives.
The creature has a white body, which is typical of creatures in dark habitats like caves or trenches. It is relatively bigger at just under 4 centimeters and is quite active against its counterparts. They have specialized raptorial appendages called gnathopods with which they hunt and eat.
The new species was discovered during a 2023 research expedition, which was part of Chile's Integrated Deep-Ocean Observing System. Researchers use a lander vehicle, an untethered platform that transports scientific equipment, such as baited traps, to the hadal zone and back, to collect the specimens.
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