New Species Discovered in Deep Sea, Including One Resembling SpongeBob Character
An international expedition identified 57 new species, five new genera, and a sea star reminiscent of Patrick Star from the cartoon.
A deep-sea exploration team has identified 57 new species, including a sea star that bears a striking resemblance to the character Patrick Star from the animated series SpongeBob SquarePants. The discovery was made in the Mar del Plata Submarine Canyon off the coast of Argentina and was announced at an international Species Discovery Workshop.
The workshop, led by the Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census in partnership with the Schmidt Ocean Institute, focused on analyzing samples collected during the Schmidt Ocean Institute Underwater Oasis of the Mar del Plata Canyon expedition in August 2025. The expedition utilized the Schmidt Ocean Institute's remotely operated vehicle, ROV SuBastian, which is capable of reaching depths of up to 4,500 meters.
Among the 57 newly identified species were 20 types of copepods, 22 echinoderms (which include sea cucumbers and crinoids), 14 cnidarians (such as octocorals, sea pens, and stony corals), and one scaphopod mollusk. The findings also include five new scientific genera across corals, sea cucumbers, and crustaceans.
The newly discovered sea star, described as vivid orange, was documented on the seafloor and has drawn comparisons to the beloved cartoon character due to its shape and appearance. This discovery highlights the vast unknown biodiversity present in the deep ocean.
The research expedition was conducted aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute's research vessel Falkor. The workshop brought together 20 taxonomists and early-career researchers from Latin America and Europe to examine the biological samples.
These findings underscore the importance of deep-sea exploration and the continuous discovery of new life forms in Earth's oceans.