Scientists Find 57 New Species in a Deep-Sea Canyon Off Argentina; Perth Notes It Finds 57 New Potholes a Week
Sea cucumber nicknamed 'Loki' hailed as 'the most charismatic thing found in a hole since Dunkeld Road'.
The coast at Mar del Plata, far above the newly catalogued species. Photo: Erik Stattin, “Mar del Plata beach”, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
PERTH — Researchers have announced 57 new marine species from a deep submarine canyon off Argentina, including corals and a sea cucumber nicknamed “Loki”, prompting Perth roads officials to note that they too regularly discover unknown things in deep holes.
“Some potholes appear overnight and have their own ecosystems,” said a roads inspector. “There’s one with frogs in it. We’ve never named one. Maybe that’s the problem.”
The expedition was watched live online by huge audiences. Inspired, Perth’s roads team say every new pothole will now get a scientific name and a small plaque.
“The first will be Lokius dunkeldii,” said the inspector. “Eight inches deep, very old, and it ate my colleague’s hubcap. Basically a sea monster.”
The real story: 57 new marine species identified in Argentina's Mar del Plata Submarine Canyon (Schmidt Ocean Institute)
Letters to the Editor
The views expressed are those of the reader, and frankly that's on them.
No letters yet. The town is uncharacteristically quiet.
Write to the Editor