Japanese Marine Scientists Stunned to Find a Giant Limpet Species in the Pacific Ocean Depths
The extreme depths of the oceans around the world have long intrigued scientists, often unveiling mysterious creatures or objects that challenge modern understanding. Recently, over 19,429 feet (5,922 meters) below the Pacific Ocean, the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) discovered a surprising new species in Tokyo that left experts puzzled and curious. They published their findings in the open-access journal Zoosystematics and Evolution. These findings thoroughly highlighted the need for more targeted explorations of rocky habitats, which remain one of the least understood regions on this planet.
A New Species of Deep-Sea Limpet
The researchers from the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) made the discovery. For their research, they used the submersible “Shinkai 6500” to explore the unknown parts of the Pacific Ocean’s depths. Previous discoveries often involved finding organisms dredged up from the seafloor, but the limpet (subclass Patellogastropoda) was caught on camera alive in its natural environment. They named this species “Bathylepeta wadatsumi,” as reported by Discover Wildlife.
The Story of the Newly Discovered Limpet
“Even in an age of sophisticated remotely operated vehicles, there’s often an edge to the human eye on the seafloor. Crewed submersibles like Shinkai 6500 let us explore with intention and nuance—spotting lifeforms like Bathylepeta wadatsumi that might otherwise be missed entirely,” remarked Dr. Chong Chen, the lead author of the research, as reported by EurekAlert.
The use of such submersibles is vital to access such hard-to-reach habitats, allowing a more direct approach and observation of once-overlooked organisms. The limpet measured up to 40.5mm in length, which is unusually large for a “true” limpet, given the fact that it lives in an extremely deep part of the ocean. Scientists suggest that Bathylepeta wadatsumi plays a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance of the deep layers of the ocean by grazing on the sediment that builds up on the rocks and recycling organic matter in the abyss.
The Inspiration Behind Its Name: “Bathylepeta Wadatsumi”
The limpet, or Bathylepeta wadatsumi’s name is a reference after the mythical stories of Japan and modern pop culture. Wadatsumi is the god of the sea in Japanese folktales, and interestingly, it is also the name of a huge ‘fish man’ character in the globally famous manga series “One Piece.” The team behind the finding paid further homage to the manga series in their acknowledgements. “We also take this opportunity to salute Eiichiro Oda for continuing to chart the epic voyage of ONE PIECE (1997–), which reminds us that the greatest voyages are driven by freedom, camaraderie, and an insatiable thirst for discovery,” the team added.
The discovery of Bathylepeta wadatsumi in its natural environment emphasizes the crucial role of advanced submersible technology in getting to know about unknown and hidden habitats. Increasing the exploration efforts could lead to a better understanding of how such mysterious animals and their habitat survive and coexist. Moreover, the team has urged for submersible-led expeditions to dive deeper and may eventually find something entirely different.