This new specimen, officially belonging to the genus *Chondroclada*, was found at a depth of 11,800 feet (3,597 meters) east of Montagu Island off the coast of Antarctica. It is distinguished by its long appendages ending in pinkish balls covered with tiny hooks designed to trap small crustaceans such as copepods, making this sponge more predatory than other sponges that typically feed by simply filtering small particles in the water.
Dr. Michelle Taylor, head of science at the Nippon-Nekton Ocean Census, likened this type of sponge to "a string of ping-pong balls on plant stems," explaining that the sponges trap their prey with hooks and gradually envelop it to extract all the nutrients. She said, "Sponges are stationary creatures that can't actively hunt for food, so this method needs to be very efficient."
This discovery was made during an expedition from February to March aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute's research vessel R/V Falkor, which used the remotely operated underwater vehicle "Robot Sebastian" to survey depths of up to approximately 4,500 meters. The vehicle collected nearly 2,000 samples from 14 animal groups, including 30 previously unknown species.
The team also discovered armored, glowing worms known as "Elvis worms," distinguished by their shimmering shells that produce flashes of light that may confuse predators. Scientists also found new species of starfish and clam bivalves adapted to volcanic and hydrothermal environments.
Zombie worms (Osedax), which rely on bacteria to break down fat within whale bones, have also been observed, although they are not new to science. Among the potential new species are a black coral and a possible genus of sea pens, which resemble ancient writing pens and are currently being evaluated by experts.
Taylor explained that the vast majority of the world's oceans – about 80% – have not yet been explored, and that the Southern Ocean is severely lacking in samples.
She said, "The confirmation of 30 new species from less than a third of the samples demonstrates the extent to which biodiversity in these areas remains undocumented." She added, "Each species represents a cornerstone for conservation, biodiversity studies, and future scientific endeavors."