Surviving in the ocean's deepest trenches requires remarkable adaptations. Deep-sea creatures often possess a gelatinous body that can withstand immense pressure, bioluminescent features to navigate the darkness, and a transparent coloration that helps them camouflage in the pitch-black depths. This unique combination frequently gives these creatures an alien-like appearance. However, the ocean's latest discovery, the bumpy snailfish, challenges the notion that all deep-sea inhabitants are strange or fearsome. “It’s pretty adorable,” remarked Mackenzie Gerringer, a marine biologist at the State University of New York at Geneseo, highlighting a softer side of deep-sea life.
The bumpy snailfish was one of three new snailfish species recently discovered off the coast of California, at depths exceeding 10,000 feet. This significant finding stemmed from an expedition led by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. Gerringer and her team meticulously examined the samples, culminating in a study published in the journal Ichthyology & Herpetology in late August. The ocean’s deep-sea environment—spanning more than 80% of the ocean seafloor—is the largest habitat on Earth and plays a crucial role in the interconnectedness of marine ecosystems.
Snailfish are small, saltwater fish that inhabit diverse environments, from tide pools to the deep ocean. The Mariana snailfish holds the record for the deepest fish species, thriving at an astonishing depth of 27,000 feet in the Mariana Trench. The snailfish family comprises approximately 450 described species, with many of these discoveries occurring in the last two decades. These fish are characterized by their scaleless bodies and a disc on their belly, allowing shallow-water species to adhere to rocks or larger fish.
Gerringer expressed her fascination with how a creature that appears delicate can endure such harsh environments, showcasing the remarkable adaptations of these snailfish. At the bottom of deep-sea trenches, pressure can exceed 15,000 pounds per square inch. “These snailfish are living in a habitat that’s colder than our refrigerators,” Gerringer noted, emphasizing the extreme conditions they thrive in.
The wide range of habitats occupied by snailfish allows scientists to compare species residing at the surface with closely related species that inhabit the trenches. “Their depth distribution as a family is just kind of amazing,” stated James Orr, a fisheries biologist at the University of Washington who was not involved in the research. Orr, who has described over 20 snailfish species, found the new discovery “very impressive.” He emphasized how the newfound footage from the 2019 expedition, captured by both a human-occupied vehicle named Alvin and a remotely operated vehicle called Doc Ricketts, revealed the true beauty of these creatures.
The bumpy snailfish, which measures about the width of a human hand, was identified as an adult female with a round head, large eyes, and a distinctive pink coloration. Johanna Weston, a deep ocean ecologist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, noted that snailfish are “gregarious animals.” “They come in beautiful colors,” she remarked, referring to the palette that includes blue, pink, white, and purple, adding that they often display a charming smile.
In contrast to the grim-looking anglerfish, often portrayed as a poster child for deep-sea life, the bumpy snailfish exemplifies the diverse and enchanting aspects of the deep ocean. “Our planet is a deep-ocean planet,” Weston affirmed, emphasizing that most of Earth’s animals reside in these depths. “It’s vital for us to understand who they are, where they live, and to appreciate their beauty,” she concluded. While the deep sea may initially seem like a "dark and scary" environment, Weston reassured that, for the most part, these creatures are thriving in their underwater homes.
