Mysterious ‘ghost shark’, carnivorous ‘death ball’ sponge, and a worm living in a ‘glass castle’ – more than 1,100 new marine species discovered

In a global effort to accelerate species discovery, scientists have uncovered 1,121 previously unknown marine species, marking a 54% increase in annual identification.

• Speciation: what a species is, how new species form - and why deciding if a species is a new species can be complicated...
• Evolution explained: what evolution is, how evolution works - and how some dinosaurs turned into birds

The mission was first launched in April 2023 and included 13 expeditions and 9 species discovery workshops with leading scientists around the world. Behind the discoveries is Ocean Census, an organisation with a singular focus - to speed up species discovery.

To accelerate the traditionally long process of formal species classification, Ocean Census is integrating high-resolution imaging, DNA sequencing, and global data-sharing networks. The research is conducted by investigating specimens collected from marine expeditions into the world’s most remote and least explored ocean regions. 

• 100 new ocean species discovered off the coast of New Zealand
• The ocean is getting darker. Here's what that means for life on Earth

All 1,121 species were discovered in a single year, making this a significant step forward in efforts to document life in the world’s oceans. Around 1-2 million species are currently estimated to live in Earth’s oceans, but only around 240,000 have been formally identified.

“With many species at risk of disappearing before they are even documented, we are in a race against time to understand and protect ocean life,” says Dr. Michelle Taylor, Head of Science at Ocean Census.

A species is classified as 'discovered' when experts determine that it’s new to science, but it’s not considered 'described' until a taxonomic description or diagnosis is published with a scientific name assigned, and a holotype (a physical specimen) is deposited in a recognised collection. The average time between a species’ discovery and its formal description is 13.5 years, meaning some species can go extinct before they’re catalogued.

• Back from the dead: meet 10 incredible animals once thought extinct
• Deep-sea scientists just found an ancient and exceptional thing at the bottom of the Arctic Ocean

To close this gap, Ocean Census has launched a new digital platform called NOVA, where ‘discovered’ is recognised as a formal scientific status that can be immediately recorded, with data made available within weeks, or even days.

Discovering new species is not only essential for biodiversity conservation and ocean sustainability, but could also lead to breakthroughs in medicine, science and more. For example, toxins in ribbon worms have been previously investigated as potential treatments for Alzheimer’s and schizophrenia.

• Scientists just spent 16 months exploring Earth's oceans – what they found is breathtaking

“We spend billions searching for life on Mars or going to the dark side of the moon. Discovering the majority of life on our own planet – in our own ocean – costs a fraction of that. The question is not whether we can afford to do this. It is whether we can afford not to,” says Oliver Steeds, Director of Ocean Census.

According to Ocean Census, before the organisation launched it was estimated that its goal of discovering 100,000 new species would require “at least US$1 billion, continued technological advancements, and an expanding global network of partners.” In contrast, according to NASA Inspector General Paul Martin, each launch of the Artemis moon missions costs around US$4.1 billion. 

Ocean Census has already planned six new expeditions and five new species discovery workshops for 2026. 

Discoveries from depths of up to 6,575m (21,500ft) include:

Chimaera (Chimaera sp. 1), or 'ghost shark', found in Coral Sea Marine Park, Australia

Often referred to as ‘ghost sharks’, chimaeras are ancient cartilaginous fish that diverged from a common ancestor with sharks and rays nearly 400 million years ago, predating dinosaurs. Their smooth, scaleless skin and glowing eyes give them an almost otherworldly look. 

This species was discovered by taxonomist Dr William White. 

Symbiotic Worm (Dalhousiella yabukii), found in Shichiyo Seamount Chain, Japan

This worm lives in a symbiotic relationship with a glass sponge, making a home within its elaborate chambers. Glass sponges (Hexactinellida) construct translucent skeletons from silica – the same material we use to create glass – forming the ‘glass castle’. 

This species was discovered by Dr Nato Jimi and published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society.

• There’s a bizarre animal in the deepest depths of the Pacific Ocean that looks like a toast rack – and it uses deadly hooks to kill its prey

‘Death ball’ sponge (Chondrocladia sp.), found in the North Trench of the South Sandwich Islands

Unlike most sponges, this new species is a carnivore. It's covered in microscopic, Velcro-like hooks designed to snag prey drifting in the current. Once trapped, it envelops its victim before digesting it. 

This species was identified by specialist Javier Francisco Cristobo Rodriguez. 

Sea pen (Ptilella sp. OCSS_1146), found on Mystery Ridge in the South Sandwich Islands

Some species of sea pen resemble quill pens, but they’re actually colonial corals. Unlike reef-building corals that cling to rocks, most sea pens act like trees on the bottom of the deep sea. Each colony is a cooperative of polyps, each doing a different job – some keeping the structure upright, some filter-feeding (obtaining nutrients by feeding on organic matter, food particles or smaller organisms in the water) from the passing current. 

This species was identified by Dr Raissa Hogan. 

Ribbon worm (Drepanophoridae sp.1)

Measuring less than 3cm long, this colourful ribbon worm may use its pigmentation as a visual warning to predators. Some of the unique toxins in ribbon worms have been investigated as potential treatments for Alzheimer’s and schizophrenia. 

This is one of 100 new species identified by Dr. Svetlana Maslakova and her team. 

• Weirdest sea creatures - meet 15 strange ocean animals, including one that's part vegetable and one that resembles a toast rack
• "Within its beautiful, softly fluttering fins are a dozen spines able to deliver a dose of powerful venom." 10 prettiest, sparkliest sea animals on the planet...

More discovered species:

Top image: Shinkai 6500 on the seafloor Nankai Through. Credit: The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census/JAMSTEC