Researchers identify three new deep sea coral species in Indian Ocean

Researchers conducting a survey along remote ridges in the Indian Ocean have identified three new species of luminous deep-sea octocorals, Bioengineer.org reported. A study published in the journal Zoosystematics and Evolution details the discovery of the octocorals within the family Chrysogorgiidae, which is a group of soft corals. The publication also recorded two previously known species of the family along the ridges for the first time. [1][4]

Systematics is the branch of biology focused on the diversification of living forms and the relationships among living things through time. Biological samples for the taxonomic study were collected during a 2022 marine research expedition that explored two underwater topographic structures, the Carlsberg Ridge and the Ninetyeast Ridge. [1][2]

The specimens were recovered from the Indian Ocean, which is the third largest oceanic division on Earth and covers approximately 70,560,000 square kilometers. Bioengineer.org noted that the study examines the biological systematic relationships and geographical distribution of organisms along these deep underwater mountain chains, which remain among the least explored marine environments on the planet. [1][3]