Scientists have made history by capturing footage of the deepest-ever fish, a young snailfish, on camera at an astonishing depth of 8,336 meters (over 27,000 feet) in the Japan Trench of the northern Pacific Ocean.
In a remarkable feat, researchers from the University of Western Australia and Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology released the exclusive footage last Sunday. The incredible recording was made by sea robots called "landers" that were deployed into three deep trenches – Japan, Izu-Ogasawara, and Ryukyu – at varying depths during a two-month survey in September.
What's remarkable about this achievement is not just the depth of the fish but also the fact that it marks a significant milestone for scientists studying the deepest fish populations on Earth. The previous record holder was a snailfish spotted at 7,703 meters in 2008, while no species has ever been collected from below 8,000 meters.
The two captured snailfish, identified as Pseudoliparis belyaevi, were physically caught by the researchers at depths of 8,022 meters and provided a unique glimpse into their extraordinary features. These tiny fish possess tiny eyes, translucent bodies, and an absence of swim bladder, which allows them to thrive in extreme environments.
According to Dr. Alan Jamieson, the expedition's leader and founder of the Minderoo-UWA Deep Sea Research Centre, the discovery highlights how far a particular species can descend into the ocean. The snailfish often stay at these depths to avoid being preyed upon by larger predators that inhabit shallower waters.
The researchers' endeavor is part of a decade-long study to explore the deepest fish populations in the world. However, the high cost of the lander technology and equipment is a significant constraint for further research. According to Dr. Jamieson, each lander costs around $200,000 to assemble and operate.
Despite these challenges, scientists remain intrigued by creatures living at extreme depths, with the Pacific Ocean's unique warm southern current and abundant marine life creating a vibrant ecosystem that encourages deep-sea exploration.
The extraordinary footage provides an unparalleled look into the lives of the enigmatic snailfish, offering insights into their remarkable adaptations and survival strategies in one of Earth's most inhospitable environments.
In a remarkable feat, researchers from the University of Western Australia and Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology released the exclusive footage last Sunday. The incredible recording was made by sea robots called "landers" that were deployed into three deep trenches – Japan, Izu-Ogasawara, and Ryukyu – at varying depths during a two-month survey in September.
What's remarkable about this achievement is not just the depth of the fish but also the fact that it marks a significant milestone for scientists studying the deepest fish populations on Earth. The previous record holder was a snailfish spotted at 7,703 meters in 2008, while no species has ever been collected from below 8,000 meters.
The two captured snailfish, identified as Pseudoliparis belyaevi, were physically caught by the researchers at depths of 8,022 meters and provided a unique glimpse into their extraordinary features. These tiny fish possess tiny eyes, translucent bodies, and an absence of swim bladder, which allows them to thrive in extreme environments.
According to Dr. Alan Jamieson, the expedition's leader and founder of the Minderoo-UWA Deep Sea Research Centre, the discovery highlights how far a particular species can descend into the ocean. The snailfish often stay at these depths to avoid being preyed upon by larger predators that inhabit shallower waters.
The researchers' endeavor is part of a decade-long study to explore the deepest fish populations in the world. However, the high cost of the lander technology and equipment is a significant constraint for further research. According to Dr. Jamieson, each lander costs around $200,000 to assemble and operate.
Despite these challenges, scientists remain intrigued by creatures living at extreme depths, with the Pacific Ocean's unique warm southern current and abundant marine life creating a vibrant ecosystem that encourages deep-sea exploration.
The extraordinary footage provides an unparalleled look into the lives of the enigmatic snailfish, offering insights into their remarkable adaptations and survival strategies in one of Earth's most inhospitable environments.
. It's mind-blowing to think about how these tiny creatures can survive with no eyes or a swim bladder – talk about adaptin' to extreme conditions! And the fact that they stay down there 'cause it's safer from predators, genius? I mean, we're still learnin' so much about our oceans and the creatures that call 'em home. It just goes to show how important it is to keep explorin' and innovatin' when it comes to marine research 
I'm telling you, something fishy is going on here... like, have you seen the depth they were able to reach? 8,336 meters?! It's almost like they wanted us to know that there are still these hidden creatures living in the dark depths of the ocean. And what's up with the $200,000 cost per lander? That's like, a small fortune! It's like they're trying to keep this discovery under wraps, but at the same time, we get to see this amazing footage. I'm not buying it...
. i feel bad for the fish though, living at such extreme depths, it's like being on the bottom of the ocean. but their adaptations are mind-blowing! tiny eyes and no swim bladder? that's like having a superpower underwater 
. scientists are really pushing the boundaries with this research and it's amazing to see what we can discover when we invest in exploration 
can you believe this is still 2025 and we're only now getting footage of a fish that deep?! I mean, what's next? 
Come on! It's like they're trying to keep us from discovering more cool stuff about our planet. 
I mean, I know we've been hearing about these deep-sea creatures for ages, but it's still mind-blowing to think about how scientists are constantly pushing boundaries. And can you imagine what other secrets the ocean has hiding down there? 
The fact that they spent 2 months and $200k+ on lander tech just goes to show how much we still have to learn from these incredible creatures! 
also think about the landers itself, $200k each thats insane how did they afford it? 
still so cool tho that snailfish got 8k+ meters depth on its plate 
I love how scientists are pushing the limits of what we know about our oceans and the creatures that live in them. The fact that these tiny snailfish can survive in such extreme conditions is mind-blowing. And can you believe they had to spend $200k on landers just to do this? 
it's like, investing in a dream or something. I'm so excited for more discoveries like this! 
. And the researchers are right, this discovery does highlight how adaptable some species are when it comes to living in extreme environments 
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It's mind-blowing that scientists finally got footage of a snailfish living that deep! The fact that it has no swim bladder and super tiny eyes is straight-up crazy 
. And the researchers just dropped $200k on lander tech... that's some serious cash 
. I wonder what other secrets the deep sea has and who knows when we'll find out? The technology costs are crazy though, $200k per lander? That's like buying a house or something 
the fact that these little fish can survive at such extreme depths is mind-blowing 
And no swim bladder? That's wild. I guess it makes sense that they'd have evolved to live in such extreme conditions.
And can you even imagine how tiny those fish are? Like, what even is normal size at that depth? 
It's mind-blowing to think about these little creatures thriving in the dark, cold depths. I'm all about exploring and learning more about our oceans, it's crazy how much we still don't know 
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