Deep-Sea Discovery: A New Relative of the Vampire Squid
In an exciting breakthrough, Chinese scientists from the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology and the Chinese Academy of Sciences have unveiled a new species related to the enigmatic vampire squid.
The discovery, published in the journal Zootaxa, highlights significant morphological and genetic differences from the previously sole recognized extant vampire squid species in the order Vampyromorphida. This new species was collected at depths of 800 to 1,000 meters southeast of Hainan Island in September 2016, a region known for its challenging underwater environment with minimal light and low oxygen levels.
Through meticulous analysis, researchers identified distinct variations in the tail shape, lower beak structure, and photophore positions compared to the classic vampire squid, first discovered in 1903 by German marine biologist Carl Chun.
Genetic studies further revealed that while the new species and the original vampire squid share a common evolutionary tree, they represent two distinct branches, confirming the new find as the second known extant species in their order.
Adding to the intrigue, a March 2022 study by scientists from the American Museum of Natural History and Yale University published in Nature Communications analyzed a 328-million-year-old fossil of a 10-armed cephalopod, believed to be the oldest ancestor of both octopuses and vampire squid. This fossil supports the theory that the order Vampyromorphida originally had 10 arms, which gradually evolved into the current eight.
This discovery not only enriches our understanding of deep-sea biodiversity but also sheds light on the evolutionary history of some of the ocean’s most mysterious creatures.
Reference(s):
New species related to vampire squid discovered by Chinese scientists
cgtn.com
