New Species of Fish Found off New Zealand
Rhonda Moniz
February 11, 2013
Scientists from the University of Aberdeen and Te Papa Museum discovered a new species of eelpout that had not previously been known in the southwest Pacific. The voyage covered waters well below the depth to which light penetrates, sampling depths between one to six km on the edge of the Kermadec Trench. It is one of the deepest places on earth with depths exceeding 10 km. The scientists on board RV Kaharoa, from the University of Aberdeen and NIWA, used landers, with cameras attached that free-fall to the seafloor, as well as baited fish traps to attract animals, according to a NIWA statement. Voyage leader Dr. Alan Jamieson from Aberdeen said: The amount of data recovered during the survey was considerable.