57 New Marine Species Found in Atlantic, Including 'Loki' Sea Cucumber

Fifty-seven previously unknown marine organisms have been cataloged in the southern Atlantic Ocean following a two-week international expedition. The findings include a deep-sea echinoderm dubbed “Loki the Sea Cucumber,” which was found at a depth of 8,454 feet and named for its hornlike appendages resembling those of the Norse god who inspired the Marvel character.

The Discovery Workshop Details

The identification effort took place during an international Species Discovery Workshop held in 2025. This initiative was led by the Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census in collaboration with the Schmidt Ocean Institute. According to a press release from the Nippon Foundation, the team operated in submarine canyons off the coast of Argentina as part of a broader research project.

Twenty taxonomists and early-career researchers from Latin America and Europe participated in the workshop. Their work resulted in the classification of five new genera alongside the 57 new species. The breakdown of these discoveries includes 20 copepods (small saltwater crustaceans), 22 echinoderms (comprising sea cucumbers and crinoids), 14 cnidarians (such as octocorals, sea pens, and stony corals), and one scaphopod mollusc.

Significance of Collaborative Taxonomy

Dr. Michelle Taylor, Head of Science at Ocean Census, emphasized the efficiency of the joint effort. “Discovering 57 new species and five new genera in just two weeks demonstrates the speed and power of collaborative taxonomy,” she stated. She noted that the deep sea contains some of Earth’s least understood ecosystems.

Taylor explained that the process involved integrating scientific expertise from Latin America with international specialists. Furthermore, connecting these researchers to the open-access Ocean Census NOVA platform has significantly accelerated the understanding of marine biodiversity.

Future Research Plans

The organization intends to return to the region in 2027 for additional exploration. In the interim, researchers are scheduled to revisit a different submarine canyon in the same Atlantic waters during February and March of next year. The objective is to collect further samples of “marine invertebrates,” with the potential to uncover even more new species.