Scientists have found that Antarctic waters harbour sea-creatures of startling proportions, with giant-sized specimens surprising researchers during a major survey of New Zealand’s Antarctic seas that ended this week.
Huge sea snails, jellyfish with tentacles up to 4 metres long and starfish the size of large dinner plates were some of the species found during research vessel Tangaroa’s 50-day, 2,000-mile voyage in the Ross Sea, New Zealand marine scientist Don Robertson said.
“I would say there will be hundreds” of previously unknown organisms and “a lot of new species” among the 30,000 specimens collected, Robertson said.
Excerpt from the Telegraph article: ‘Giant sea creatures found in Antarctic’
Jennifer Marohasy BSc PhD has worked in industry and government. She is currently researching a novel technique for long-range weather forecasting funded by the B. Macfie Family Foundation.
First the loonies scream that burning oil and cola will reduce species, and lo, we find new ones no one knew about.
Makes me wonder whether Neo-Darwinism is all that reliable as an explanation for biodiveristy.
Louis, people find new species all the time. And biologists understand (all too well) that we don’t know how many species there are – especially in the invertebrates and deep sea life.
Darwinism is a great explanation for diversity. Not sure why you think it wouldn’t be. What is it about Darwinism that would suggest low diversity of life?
“First the loonies scream that burning oil and cola will reduce species, and lo, we find new ones no one knew about.” – Louis Hissink
This comment is a joke right? Given Mr T’s explanation, maybe not and there really are neanderthals still walking around.
Mr T, I was not suggesting it was you who had grazes on your knuckles.
Jennifer B, the sad thing is that Louis doesn’t make jokes. He also claims that plate tectonics is a fabrication by geophysicists and that oil is a product of methane reacting with iron silicates in the mantle…
What am I saying. It’s not sad. It’s HILARIOUS!
And yes I understood you weren’t talking about me.