A research voyage funded by CSIRO, and the Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census undertaken in the Coral Sea towards the end of 2025, resulted in marine scientists and taxonomists identifying more than 110 fish and invertebrate species new to science. This number is likely to exceed 200 as more cryptic species are identified. The species were discovered between 200 to 3000m deep in the Coral Sea Marine Park, which comprises nearly a million square kilometres of mostly unexplored, deep-water marine environments.
During a series of workshops that were subsequently held around the country, Dr Will White, CSIRO Voyage Chief Scientist and Ichthyologist, identified four new species: two rays in the genera Dipturus and Urolophus, one deep-water catshark in the genus Apristurus, and one chimaera in the genus Chimaera. He said the voyage provided an incredible experience to observe so many unique, deep-sea creatures in locations from seamounts and atolls to unexplored deep reefs.
“These discoveries were made possible by the impressive deep-water survey capabilities of RV Investigator and revealed the extraordinary life in our oceans that are crucial for protecting Australia’s biodiversity. In what were likely the largest taxonomic workshops of marine animals ever undertaken in Australia, other notable discoveries included species of brittlestars, crabs, sea anemones and sponges that are new to science,” he said.
Michelle Taylor, Head of Science at the Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census, an organisation that unites national and philanthropic marine institutes, museums and universities, and which is backed by governments, philanthropy, business and civil society partners, said the workshops helped to close knowledge gaps about undocumented marine life worldwide.
“They ensure high-quality data is visible to the global community in real time. The taxonomists at these workshops input the species data directly into the Ocean Census Biodiversity Data Platform, the world’s first open-access digital gateway for newly discovered marine species,” she explained.
Toni Moate, Director of CSIRO’s Marine National Facility said the voyage had been a wonderful collaboration between national and international researchers and research agencies working together to increase better understanding of the deep sea life in the Coral sea region and helped to add to the ever-growing list of new species that are crucial for protecting the extraordinary biodiversity in Australia’s oceans.
Candice Untiedt, a CSIRO marine ecologist and workshop participant agreed, but added collecting specimens was just a first step.
“The voyage was essential for uncovering biodiversity in our marine parks, but turning specimens into knowledge depends on taxonomic expertise. The workshops enabled local and international taxonomists to come together to work through hundreds of specimens, combining detailed morphological analysis with DNA sequencing to identify species new to science. Discoveries across invertebrate groups like jellyfish, sponges and polychaete worms are emerging from deeper waters adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef and from remote seamounts,” she said.
The researchers said securing these specimens in national museum collections will ensure they can be studied for generations to come, laying the foundation for future species’ discovery and deepening understanding of Australia’s marine biodiversity.
Anne Layton-Bennett
