A new species of deep-sea limpet has been discovered nearly 6km beneath the surface of the Pacific Ocean, setting a record for the deepest known habitat of any true limpet – a group of marine gastropods.
Named Bathylepeta wadatsumi, the animal was found clinging to volcanic rock 500km south-east of Tokyo, Japan.
The find was made by researchers from the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), who used the crewed submersible Shinkai 6500 to explore this largely unknown deep-sea environment.
Unlike previous discoveries, which often involve organisms dredged from the seafloor, the limpet was photographed alive in its natural rocky habitat. The findings were published today in the journal Zoosystematics and Evolution.
Discovering the giant limpet
“Even in an age of sophisticated remotely operated vehicles, there’s often an edge to the human eye on the seafloor," says lead author Dr Chong Chen.
"Crewed submersibles like Shinkai 6500 let us explore with intention and nuance – spotting lifeforms like Bathylepeta wadatsumi that might otherwise be missed entirely.”
Measuring up to 40.5mm in length, B. wadatsumi is unusually large for a true limpet, especially given the extreme depth at which it lives.
Scientists believe it plays an important ecological role in the deep ocean, grazing on sediment that builds up over rocks and helping to recycle organic matter in the abyss.
The species’ name – B. wadatsumi – is a nod to both Japanese mythology and modern pop culture. Wadatsumi is the god of the sea in Japanese folklore; it's also the name of a large 'fish-man' character in the popular manga series One Piece.
The discovery highlights just how little is known about rocky habitats in the deep ocean, say the researchers, who are calling for more submersible-led expeditions to uncover the full range of species that may still be hidden in the abyss.
Top image: Bathylepeta wadatsumi. Credit: Chen et al.
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