New Ecosystem Is Found Around Southern Ocean Hydrothermal Vent

By SINDYA N. BHANOOPublished: January 9, 2012






Deep in the Southern Ocean near Antarctica, scientists have discovered 23 new animal species living in the hot, dark environment around hydrothermal vents.


This deep-sea ecosystem was dominated by a species of yeti crab, but also included stalked barnacles, limpets, snails, sea anemones and possibly an octopus, the scientists report in the journal PLoS Biology. There will be more new species discovered as the collected material

Read more ...