The study was conducted as part of the Nippon Foundation–Nekton Ocean Census program, launched in 2023 to explore poorly studied ecosystems in the Southern Ocean. One of the expedition's most notable findings was the discovery of a new species of the genus Chondrocladia, nicknamed the "ping-pong ball sponge".
At first glance, this creature resembles a cluster of transparent bubbles attached to thin stalks, but it is actually an active predator. Its surface is covered with numerous microscopic hooks that it uses to capture small crustaceans, then surround them and slowly absorb their nutrients. Because of its unusual hunting method, scientists have nicknamed it the "ball of death." This sponge was observed using the remotely operated vehicle "Sebastian" at a depth of 3,601 meters in the oceanic trenches east of Montagu Island.
The expedition also uncovered new species of bioluminescent bollworms, along with previously unknown crustaceans and starfish. Researchers also captured, for the first time, video footage of a giant squid, and explored a unique ecosystem beneath a massive iceberg that had broken off from the West Antarctic Ice Sheet.
Scientists noted that the analysis of the collected samples is still in its early stages, with less than 30% of them having been studied so far. Nevertheless, the discovery of at least 30 new species has been confirmed, highlighting the limitations of our current knowledge about life in the deep waters of the Southern Ocean.
