The South Sandwich Islands, a remote archipelago in the South Atlantic, were recently explored by the Schmidt Ocean Institute. Their 35-day research expedition aboard the Falkor led to significant discoveries, including new hydrothermal vents, lush coral gardens, and likely new species. One notable achievement was the first video documentation of a juvenile colossal squid alive in its natural habitat. This initiative is part of the Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census, aimed at accelerating the exploration of oceanic biodiversity, amidst challenging weather conditions and geological events.
The expedition uncovered new hydrothermal vents, coral gardens, and potentially new species, highlighted by the documentation of a juvenile colossal squid, seen alive for the first time.
Colossal squid, the heaviest invertebrate, have only been documented when dead. This expedition breaks new ground by capturing footage of a juvenile at sea, enhancing our understanding.
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