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During a 40-day research expedition along the Salas y Gómez Ridge, an underwater mountain range that extends from Chile to Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, an international team of scientists observed individual seamounts harboring distinct ecosystems like glass sponge gardens and deep coral reefs. These distinct habitats provide homes for awe-inspiring deep-sea creatures — octopus, squid, fish, corals, mollusks, sea stars, sea urchins, crabs, squat lobsters, and more. Many of these animal sightings could be species new to science or an expansion of the known range. Experts hope their robust findings will advance efforts to establish high-seas protected area designation for this biologically rich region.
