Scientists Identify 1,100 New Ocean Species in Deep-Sea Discovery

Researchers discovered over 1,100 previously unknown marine species in the world's oceans, including the ghost shark, a rare deep-sea creature with distinctive features adapted to extreme depths. The findings expand the catalog of known biodiversity and challenge existing models of deep-ocean ecosystem structure. Marine scientists say the discovery underscores how little remains known about ocean habitats below 200 meters, where sunlight cannot penetrate. The research carries implications for international marine protection policies and understanding how ocean ecosystems respond to climate change and human activity.