Never-before-seen sea creatures discovered in Caribbean
A sea expedition spotted hundreds of different species - including an enope squid, dragonfish, pelican eel and barreleye fish
- Published
Scientists exploring the deep ocean around the Caribbean say they have come across some incredible discoveries in the area.
They include never-before-seen underwater species, a hidden mountain range and a massive blue hole - a type of underwater sinkhole.
In total, the team found nearly 300 different types of marine creatures during their six week mission.
Experts say the findings of the expedition could help officials protect biodiversity in the region.
WATCH: Hear from the experts who carried out this deep sea survey
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What underwater discoveries did the experts make?
WATCH: Never before seen underwater worlds in Caribbean
Researchers carried out the deep sea survey of waters off the coasts of the British Overseas Territories of Anguilla, Turks and Caicos and the Cayman Islands.
Using the research ship RRS James Cook, the team - made up of British scientists from the UK Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), along with experts from the three islands - explored the area over a six week period.
Operating all day and all night, researchers used cameras and other specialist equipment to record as deep as 6,000 metres underwater.
In total, the team came across nearly 14,000 individual specimens and 290 different types of marine creatures - including some real surprises.
This red sea cucumber was spotted during the mission
They spotted a pelican eel with a glowing pink tail that flashes red to lure in food, a dragonfish with a glowing rod under its chin and a barreleye fish which had eyes pointing upwards.
Experts say that the diversity they came across was "really, really astonishing".
Dr James Bell, who lead the expedition, explained: "This is the first step into environments people have never seen, and in some cases didn't know existed.
"Just yesterday we found a type of swimming sea cucumber, and we still don't know what it is," he added.
Colourful coral was also photographed on the sea floor
It wasn't only peculiar new marine life that the team found.
They also came across an underwater mountain range as well as reefs which look untouched by climate change.
Footage reveals a bright blue, yellow and orange mountain side teeming with life - golden towers of coral growing next to coral that look like large brains.
The team filmed fish darting in the area and jelly-like orange sea sponges near black coral.
Experts believe this is one of the healthiest, most diverse reefs that exist in the region.
Some of the black coral has been estimated to be thousands of years old, making them some of the oldest ever recorded.
"It tells us that these environments are really pristine and healthy," Dr Bell explained.
Scientists used specialist deep sea equipment to survey marine biodiversity
Researchers mapped almost 10,000 sq miles of sea-floor and captured 20,000 photos.
They were also astonished to discover a massive sinkhole called a blue hole, which they believe formed when a cave collapsed inwards.
"Imagine taking an ice cream scoop out of the sea-floor. That's what we saw - a crater about 300m wide to 550m below sea level," Dr Bell added.
Scientists say the findings from their underwater project - called the Blue Belt Programme - will be used to protect the local environment and improve biodiversity management plans for the area.
