Involving more than 800 scientists from more than 400 institutions worldwide, Ocean Census has embarked on ten expeditions and numerous workshops—so far—with a sole aim: discovering new species in the “world’s greatest frontier.”
Last week, the organization announced that it had discovered 866 new species, further advancing our understanding of marine biodiversity. Among the finds is a newly identified guitar shark, which belongs to a distinctive group of animals that share characteristics of both sharks and rays.
Another revelation is the pygmy pipehorse, which was found off the coast of Africa—the first time the genus has been spotted outside of the cool waters of New Zealand. Ocean Census says:
These diminutive pipehorses are masters of camouflage, remaining elusive as they inhabit coral reefs and blend seamlessly into their surroundings. Many members of the family Syngnathidae—which also includes seahorses, seadragons, and pipefish—are classified as Threatened on the IUCN Red List due to habitat destruction, bycatch, and targeted fishing.
While 866 is a remarkable number of discoveries, Ocean Census has its work cut out. “The identification and official registration of a new species can take up to 13-and-a-half years—meaning some species may go extinct before they are even documented,” says a statement.
To address this lag and accelerate identification, the initiative was launched jointly in 2023 by The Nippon Foundation and Nekton with a mission to “close critical knowledge gaps before it’s too late.”
Oceans cover more than 70 percent of our planet’s surface, but these vast bodies of water remain largely unexplored. “Of the estimated one to two million marine species on Earth, only 240,000 are known to science,” Ocean Census says.
Currently on a 35-day expedition to the South Sandwich Islands, the project joins four additional programs, including Schmidt Ocean Institute, to search for new species off the South Atlantic Ocean’s volcanic archipelago. Find more on Ocean Census’s website.
