New Corals Discovered Off Newfoundland's Coast

Thousands of meters down off Newfoundland's coast, a team of researchers from Canada and Spain have discovered several unknown species of sponges and at least two unknown branching corals during a 20 day expedition taking place right now. In addition to the unknown species discovered, the team are also finding specimens such as black coral that appear to be over 1000 years old! This region of the Newfoundland coast is under protection of NAFO. More below.


Unknown Sponge off Newfoundland's Coast



The team is studying 11 areas under protection of the North Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) that are, collectively, about 11⁄2 times the size of Prince Edward Island.

These areas are important because they contain the “trees of the ocean,” says Ellen Kenchington, research scientist with the Fisheries Department, who is one of the leaders of the expedition.

Source: Sea creatures previously unknown to humans found off Newfoundland coast

 

that little octopus is so cute!

 

Very cool, but the "octopus" looks more like a cuttle fish to me, but I could be wrong.

 

that sponge is ridiculous

 

heh, from my local paper

 

cute cephalopod

 

great stuff