Record-Breaking Snailfish Captured at 8,336 Meters Deep in Pacific Ocean
A team of scientists from the University of Western Australia and Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology has made history by capturing footage of a snailfish hovering calmly on the seabed at an astonishing depth of 8,336 meters (over 27,000 feet) below the surface.
The remarkable achievement not only sets a new record for the deepest fish ever filmed but also provides a rare glimpse into the lives of these enigmatic creatures. The footage was captured by sea robots, or "landers," during a two-month survey in the Japan Trench off Japan's coast last September.
According to marine biologist Alan Jamieson, who led the expedition and is the founder of the Minderoo-UWA Deep Sea Research Centre, the significance of this discovery lies not only in its depth but also in its implications for our understanding of fish behavior. "What is significant is that it shows how far a particular type of fish will descend in the ocean," Jamieson said.
The snailfish, a member of the Liparidae family, is known to inhabit shallow waters, but some species have adapted to survive at extreme depths. The two captured specimens were identified as Pseudoliparis belyaevi and possess unique features that enable them to thrive in the harsh environment. These include tiny eyes, a translucent body, and the absence of a swim bladder, which helps other fish float.
The Pacific Ocean is an ideal location for observing deep-sea creatures due to its warm southern current, which encourages sea life to move deeper, and its abundant marine life providing a rich source of food for bottom-dwellers. However, conducting such research comes with significant costs, with each lander alone costing $200,000 to assemble and operate.
As scientists continue to explore the unknown depths of our oceans, they face challenges due to the expense and technical limitations of their equipment. "The challenges are that technology has been expensive and scientists don’t have a lot of money," Jamieson said.
A team of scientists from the University of Western Australia and Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology has made history by capturing footage of a snailfish hovering calmly on the seabed at an astonishing depth of 8,336 meters (over 27,000 feet) below the surface.
The remarkable achievement not only sets a new record for the deepest fish ever filmed but also provides a rare glimpse into the lives of these enigmatic creatures. The footage was captured by sea robots, or "landers," during a two-month survey in the Japan Trench off Japan's coast last September.
According to marine biologist Alan Jamieson, who led the expedition and is the founder of the Minderoo-UWA Deep Sea Research Centre, the significance of this discovery lies not only in its depth but also in its implications for our understanding of fish behavior. "What is significant is that it shows how far a particular type of fish will descend in the ocean," Jamieson said.
The snailfish, a member of the Liparidae family, is known to inhabit shallow waters, but some species have adapted to survive at extreme depths. The two captured specimens were identified as Pseudoliparis belyaevi and possess unique features that enable them to thrive in the harsh environment. These include tiny eyes, a translucent body, and the absence of a swim bladder, which helps other fish float.
The Pacific Ocean is an ideal location for observing deep-sea creatures due to its warm southern current, which encourages sea life to move deeper, and its abundant marine life providing a rich source of food for bottom-dwellers. However, conducting such research comes with significant costs, with each lander alone costing $200,000 to assemble and operate.
As scientists continue to explore the unknown depths of our oceans, they face challenges due to the expense and technical limitations of their equipment. "The challenges are that technology has been expensive and scientists don’t have a lot of money," Jamieson said.
Can you believe this snailfish was found at 8,336 meters deep?! That's like, ridiculously crazy 
! I mean, we've explored space, but still can't even reach that depth with our current tech 
. The fact that these fish have adapted to survive in such harsh conditions is just mind-blowing 
. The cost of doing this research is a major barrier, but if we can overcome that, there's so much to learn from these creatures 
. I'm excited to see where future discoveries take us! 
This just blows my mind! I mean I've heard of deep-sea creatures but 8,336 meters is just crazy 
. My kids are always telling me about how amazing the ocean is and this just proves it - there's so much we don't know! 
I'm glad scientists are pushing boundaries like this. The cost does sound steep though, hope they're getting some funding for future expeditions 
. Maybe one day they'll discover something that changes our understanding of life on Earth and it'll be like finding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow 
!
8,336 meters is crazy, i mean, i thought the deepest part of the ocean was like, 11 km or something... but nope, these snailfish are down like, over 27,000 feet below the surface! 
gotta give a shoutout to Alan Jamieson and his team for making it happen 
. can't wait to see more discoveries like this in the future 
.
I mean, can you even imagine swimming with those tiny eyes at 8,336 meters deep? It's like living in a whole different world! The fact that these snailfish have adapted to survive in such harsh conditions is just mind-blowing 
. And I'm not surprised that the costs of doing research can be steep – it's just incredible how much we still don't know about our planet and its secrets 
.
. Who knows what other secrets are waiting to be uncovered? 
. like, how do they even see anything at that depth? 
.
fish just chillin' with tiny eyes 
and no swim bladder lol 
. And what do we really know about these creatures besides they exist? I'm sure there are plenty of other fish out there living their best lives without us even caring about them 
they got tiny eyes and no swim bladder lol what do u think about this discovery tho? it's like they're defying gravity or something! 
we need more people supporting ocean research so these amazing discoveries can keep happening.