Loki is only the beginning: 57 new marine species from an Argentine deep-sea canyon
taxonomists（tak-SON-uh-mists）
Scientists who identify and name living things.
copepods（KOH-puh-podz）
Tiny crustaceans that live in water.
Peniagone sp.（pen-ee-AG-oh-nee ess-pee）
A temporary scientific label for Loki.
What happened
A two-week workshop in Buenos Aires identified 57 marine species and five genera new to science. Most samples came from an August 2025 expedition to Argentina’s Mar del Plata Submarine Canyon. The most memorable animal is “Loki,” a sea cucumber with horn-like appendages. The nickname refers to the Norse god. Its current scientific label is Peniagone sp., so the name is not yet a final species name. The Schmidt Ocean Institute announcement and Argentina’s CONICET report describe the same central findings.
How the team looked
The expedition used the research vessel Falkor (too) and SuBastian, a remotely operated vehicle. The canyon drops beyond 3,500 meters. Loki was recorded at 2,577 meters. In July 2026, 20 taxonomists and early-career researchers met at Universidad Maimónides. They examined deep-sea samples and logged findings in Ocean Census NOVA, an open-access data platform for newly discovered marine species.
What the 57 include
The total contains 20 copepods, 22 echinoderms, 14 cnidarians, and one scaphopod mollusc. Echinoderms include sea cucumbers and crinoids. The cnidarians include octocorals, sea pens, and stony corals. The numbers add up to 57.
The copepod result is especially striking. The team examined only 10% of the collected copepod samples. Every specimen examined represented a species new to science. This does not prove that every remaining specimen is new. It shows how much information the unexamined material may still contain.
Why it matters
The canyon lies near the Brazil–Malvinas Confluence. Warm subtropical currents meet colder, nutrient-rich sub-Antarctic water there. The official account describes this meeting point as highly productive for marine life. More than four million people watched live video from the expedition.
The value is also organizational. Physical specimens will stay in Argentine institutional collections. Early-career researchers received hands-on training. The findings entered an open platform that other specialists can use. This makes the discovery easier to check and build upon.
What remains uncertain
“New” in this report means identified as new during the workshop. It does not mean every species has received a final scientific description. Loki still carries the label Peniagone sp. Coral samples include two possible new genera and a possible new family. Those possibilities await genetic analysis.
The workshop also examined only part of the collected material. Therefore, 57 is a current count from a defined set of samples, not a complete inventory of canyon life. The number could change as researchers study more material.
What comes next
A follow-up expedition is planned for February–March 2027. It will explore another submarine canyon with expected high endemism. Researchers will watch for new specimens, formal descriptions, and genetic results. Taken together, the work suggests that deep-sea discovery depends on more than a camera dive. It also needs samples, specialists, collections, and open records.
Loki and 56 more: what scientists found in the deep sea
📰 Full story: Loki is only the beginning: 57 new marine species from an Argentine deep-sea canyon
Scientists identified 57 new marine species after studying samples from an Argentine canyon.
taxonomist（tak-SON-uh-mist）
A scientist who identifies and names living things.
remotely operated vehicle（ree-MOHT-lee OP-uh-ray-tid VEE-uh-kul）
A machine controlled from far away.
Ocean Census NOVA（OH-shun SEN-sus NOH-vuh）
An open platform for recording new marine species.
💡 The gist
- Scientists identified 57 new marine species.
- Loki is a sea cucumber found 2,577 meters down.
- Only part of the collected samples has been studied.
What was found
The samples came from Mar del Plata Submarine Canyon, a deep valley under the sea. Most samples were collected during a 2025 expedition. The team studied them during a workshop in Buenos Aires.
Twenty taxonomists and young researchers worked together. A taxonomist is a scientist who identifies and names living things. They used SuBastian, a remotely operated vehicle. It collected images and deep-sea samples.
The team found Loki, a sea cucumber with horn-like body parts. Researchers named it after a Norse god. Loki was recorded 2,577 meters below the surface.
What makes the number special
The 57 species came in four groups. Twenty were copepods, tiny crustaceans. Twenty-two were echinoderms, including sea cucumbers and crinoids. Fourteen were cnidarians, including corals and sea pens. One was a scaphopod mollusc. These numbers add to 57.
Researchers studied only 10% of the collected copepod samples. Every examined specimen was new to science. The remaining samples may contain more discoveries. However, scientists must study them before making that claim.
Why the canyon supports life
Warm subtropical currents meet cold, nutrient-rich water near the canyon. This meeting can supply food for many deep-sea animals. The expedition also showed coral habitats and other sea life. More than four million people watched the live video.
The findings went onto Ocean Census NOVA, an open data platform. Specimens will stay in Argentine collections. Young researchers also gained practical training.
What is still unclear
Some names are not final. Loki still has the label Peniagone sp. Some coral groups await genetic analysis. So, 57 is a current count. It is not a complete list of canyon life.
Another expedition is planned for February–March 2027. It will explore a different submarine canyon. The Schmidt Ocean Institute announcement and CONICET report provide the source details.
The dark sea had 57 new kinds of animals
📰 Full story: Loki is only the beginning: 57 new marine species from an Argentine deep-sea canyon
Scientists looked deep underwater and found many unknown sea animals.
sea cucumber（SEE KYOO-kum-ber）
A soft sea animal.
SuBastian（soo-BAS-tee-an）
A machine that looks underwater.
Mar del Plata Submarine Canyon（mar del PLAH-tah）
A deep valley under the sea.
A story from deep under the sea
Argentina is a country in South America. Near it lies Mar del Plata Submarine Canyon, a deep sea valley.
Scientists are people who study living things. They sent SuBastian, a machine that looks underwater.
They found Loki, a soft animal called a sea cucumber. Loki has little horn-like bumps. It lived 2,577 meters below the sea surface.
Twenty scientists worked for two weeks. They found 57 new kinds of sea animals. Some were tiny animals. Some were corals.
The number is 20 plus 22 plus 14 plus 1. That makes 57.
The scientists did not check everything yet. Loki’s final name is not ready. They will explore another canyon in 2027. The sea may still hold many surprises.
More details are available from the Schmidt Ocean Institute.