SYDNEY, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Marine researchers have identified more than 110 new fish and invertebrate species from the deep waters of Australia's Coral Sea Marine Park.
Marine taxonomists said the number could exceed 200 as more cryptic species are identified in one of the region's largest deep-sea biodiversity surveys, said a statement on Wednesday from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), Australia's national science agency.
The discoveries were made by scientists on board the CSIRO research vessel Investigator. Specimens were collected from depths of 200 to 3,000 meters across seamounts, atolls and unexplored deep reefs in the million-square-kilometer marine park.
Will White, CSIRO voyage chief scientist and shark expert, said the finds, which are "crucial for protecting Australia's marine biodiversity," include new species of rays, deepwater catsharks and chimaeras.
Other notable discoveries included species of brittlestars, crabs, sea anemones and sponges that are new to science, with the voyage samples to be curated in national collections for future research, CSIRO said.
The team recorded a rich diversity of marine life using the Investigator's deep-towed camera, including the rare sand tiger shark, a deep-water relative of the grey nurse shark, it said. ■
