Strange New Creatures Found in Antarctica ...

Several strange creatures including a psychedelic octopus have been found in frigid waters off Antarctica in one of the world’s most pristine marine environments.

Others resembled corals and shrimps. At least 30 appear to be new to science, said Julian Gutt, chief scientist of an expedition that was part of the International Polar Year research effort set to launch on March 1. The researchers catalogued about 1,000 species in an area of the Antarctic seabed where warming temperatures are believed to have caused the collapse of overlying ice shelves, affecting the marine life below. Read more at http://www.livescience.com/

These fast-growing sea squirts were found at Larsen A. This can be an indication of a first step towards a biodiversity change after the collapse of the ice shelves. The animals in the foreground are colonised by two crustaceans and a brittle star. Credit: J. Gutt, Alfred-Wegener-Institute

These deep-sea sea cucumbers are abundant in the Larsen B area. Interestingly they are all heading in the same direction. Credit: J. Gutt, Alfred-Wegener-Institute 2007

A new species of Shackletonia, an amphipod crustacean sampled near Elephant Island, Antarctic Pensisula, during the Polarstern expedition. Credit: C. d'Udekem, Royal Belgium Institute for Natural Sciences

Antarctic octopus (Paraledone turqueti). Credit: E. Jorgensen, NOAA 2007