Scientists Discover Never-Before-Seen Species Deep in The Atacama Trench

New insights into the ecosystem existing in the Atacama Trench have arrived with a latest discovery, which has been described in detail in the journal Systematics and Biodiversity. The discovery in question is of "Dulcibella camanchaca," a crustacean species detected for the first time in the Pacific Ocean. The finding has challenged past assertions about life in the depths of the ocean. Scientists did not think that predators could exist in the region where "Dulcibella Camanchaca" was found. However, the spotting has upended the established belief that the region is a haven just for scavengers. It showcases that there are more secrets in the depths of the Pacific Ocean that scientists need to unveil. 

Discovery of "Dulcibella Camanchaca"

"Dulcibella Camanchaca" was found in the hadal zone of the ocean, in the Atacama Trench, or the Peru-Chile Trench, according to Sci News. The hadal zone is around 19,000 to 36,000 feet deep (6,000-11,000 m), making up 45% of the ocean. It supposedly carries many undiscovered biodiversity. Atacama Trench is one of the most geographically isolated regions in the hadal zone, carrying high sediment loads, placed just below the waters of the eutrophic surface. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution researcher Johanna Weston and her colleagues claim that very little is known about ecosystems in such regions and that they are a reservoir of previously unknown species. Each new species sheds more light on the features of the state of affairs in the brimming ecosystem. 

"Dulcibella Camanchaca" was detected in 2023 through the R/V Abate Molina. The finding was valuable, as no other predatory (non-scavenging) amphipods had been spotted in the region before it. This challenges all the past assertions people had about food chains in the ecosystem, as now the system appears to be hosting a predator in the mix. Researchers determined the species to be endemic, meaning it was spotted only in the specific region, as it supposedly belongs to a new genus as well. The study further informs that the species measured around one inch in length.

Naming of the Species

After the discovery, experts decided to name it after "darkness" from the native language of the Andes region, according to Oceanographic. They chose the name due to the environment in which it was detected. The fact that it belonged to a new genus was asserted based on the DNA and morphology data that researchers gathered from the creature in the depths. In total, researchers collected four specimens during the expedition. After pulling them onto the ship's deck, the specimens were frozen until they reached the Universidad de Concepción, Chile. 

Here, they underwent morphological and genetic analysis under the watchful eyes of experts, which proved that it was indeed a new species. The creature had a slender body, flexible limbs, and a specialized mouth, according to Daily Galaxy. These features suggest that the predator hunted on smaller amphipods to meet their eating requirements. Researchers were unable to gather real-time footage of the species in the environment due to a malfunctioning camera.

Unique Adaptations

The newly discovered species provides researchers with an idea about how creatures in such an extreme environment change themselves to survive. In "Dulcibella camanchaca," they have noted a unique adaptation called abyssal gigantism. In this adaptation, creatures in deep waters grow longer than related species in shallower waters. Experts do not know why this happens, but some believe it is to maximize energy efficiency in an environment where they do not have many resources to utilize.