A recent expedition captured the world’s attention by documenting no less than 160 previously unknown species from the region, 50 of which are completely new to science. Among these wonders of nature, astonishing creatures such as a “flying spaghetti monster” and a luminescent abyssal “dragon fish” were observed for the first time in this area. These dazzling discoveries testify to the incredible biodiversity that thrives in the marine depths off Easter Island.

🔬This expedition, led by the Institut océanographique Schmidt, also revealed the existence of previously unexplored seamounts, each harboring their own unique ecosystem. The researchers underscore the crucial importance of protecting these diverse marine habitats in order to preserve marine biodiversity and deepen our understanding of ocean ecosystems.

The MECOPO project, winner of Pure Ocean in 2019, had already highlighted the high concentration of biological diversity on these seamounts, which are still largely unknown today.

Many wonders remain to be discovered in these abysses, a precious environment to be conserved, today threatened by deep sea mining.

Find out more about the expedition on video.