Scientific expedition identifies 31 potentially new species in South Atlantic

An international scientific mission, Designing the Future 3, has identified 31 potentially new species in the depths of the South Atlantic. The expedition took place in April 2026 off the northeastern coast of Brazil, exploring the mesopelagic and bathypelagic zones at depths between 200 and 1,200 meters.

Coordinated by Karen Osborn of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History, the mission involved approximately 30 scientists from various countries. Using the research vessel Falkor (too) and the underwater vehicle SuBastian, researchers investigated organisms such as jellyfish, siphonophores, ctenophores, and larvaceans.

To study these organisms, which often feature transparent bodies and adaptations for high-pressure, dark environments, the team utilized advanced technologies including lasers, 3D scanning systems, and genetic sequencing equipment to analyze DNA on board.