Scientists film deepest ever fish on seabed off Japan | CNN

Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery in the depths of the northern Pacific Ocean, capturing footage of the deepest ever recorded fish on film. A young snailfish was spotted hovering calmly alongside other crustaceans at an incredible depth of 8,336 meters (over 27,000 feet) just above the seabed.

Led by marine biologist Alan Jamieson from the University of Western Australia and Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, the research team used advanced sea robots to conduct a two-month survey in three deep trenches - Japan, Izu-Ogasawara, and Ryukyu. The robotic landers were equipped with high-resolution cameras that captured stunning footage of the snailfish.

What's significant about this finding is that it reveals how far certain types of fish can descend in the ocean. Snailfish, a member of the Liparidae family, are known to survive at extreme depths, but even scientists had never been able to collect fish from anywhere below 8,000 meters before.

The footage shows two snailfish being caught at depths of over 8,000 meters in the Japan Trench. The captured specimens were identified as Pseudoliparis belyaevi, and their unique features help them survive in the extreme environment. These include tiny eyes, a translucent body, and a lack of swim bladder.

The discovery highlights the vibrant activity in the Pacific Ocean, where its warm southern current encourages sea creatures to go deeper, while its abundant marine life provides a good source of food for bottom feeders.

While this is an incredible breakthrough, it also raises questions about the challenges of studying extreme-depth creatures. The cost of assembling and operating these robotic landers alone is $200,000, which can be a significant constraint for scientists. As Jamieson said, "The challenges are that technology has been expensive, and scientists don't have a lot of money."

This remarkable discovery provides a rare glimpse into the lives of deep-sea creatures and highlights the importance of continued research into these extreme environments.

I'm telling you, it's all about the cash man! $200k for those fancy sea robots? That's like buying a whole house in some places But for real, can't we just get some government funding or something? This is how we're gonna make progress on our planet, one deep-sea creature at a time

I was just reading about this crazy fish in the depths of the Pacific Ocean... 27k feet is insane! I mean, who knew there were fish that could survive at such extreme depths? It's like they're from another world or something. And those tiny eyes and translucent bodies? That's wild.

I'm curious to know more about these creatures, though. Like, how do they navigate in the dark? Do they have some special way of finding food? I also wonder if this discovery might help us learn more about how our oceans are changing over time. Maybe these deep-sea creatures can give us clues?

It's also crazy to think that scientists had never been able to collect fish from below 8,000 meters before... that's like a whole new world down there! The technology used in this expedition must be super advanced for it to cost $200k alone. But I guess if it helps us learn more about the ocean and its creatures, it's worth it.

Anyway, thanks for sharing this story - I'm totally fascinated now!

OMG I'm literally blown away by this! The thought of something so small & adorable like a snailfish living in an environment that's basically hostile to us is just mind-blowing . And can you even imagine the conditions down there? Like, it's dark, cold, and pressure-wise, it's like being underwater for hours on end! Anyway, I'm all for more research into these areas – we're literally still learning about our own planet . The tech is crazy expensive though, I feel you . Maybe one day it'll be more accessible to smaller teams & they can make some new ground-breaking discoveries

This is wild! Can you believe we're actually talking about fish that can survive at depths of over 27,000 feet?! It's like something out of a sci-fi movie. But what really gets me thinking is how we're willing to spend $200k on robots to study these creatures when there are so many pressing issues on our planet that need attention. I mean, don't get me wrong, it's awesome that scientists are pushing the boundaries of human knowledge, but let's not forget about climate change, inequality, and access to clean water for all!

omg can u believe the depth these fish can go down?! 8k meters is insane! they're like little fishy aliens or something! i love how scientists are pushing boundaries with those robots, it's so cool to see what's at the bottom of our oceans. but $200k? that's a lot for one robotic lander... maybe governments can help fund more research so we can learn more about these creatures and their habitats

I mean, come on, 8,336 meters is wild! Like, what's even going on down there?! It's like our understanding of the ocean just got turned upside down, you feel? And that snailfish just chillin' alongside crustaceans, no big deal.

The tech behind this discovery is straight fire, though. Those robotic landers are like something out of a sci-fi movie! $200k might seem like a lot, but I'm sure it's worth it to get that footage and learn more about these creatures.

I love how the article mentions the Japan Trench as an example of a place where sea life is super active. It just goes to show that there's so much we don't know about our own oceans, and that's what makes discoveries like this so exciting!

I mean think about it, we're still learning about our own planet's depths and all its mysteries . This discovery is mind-blowing, but what's even more amazing is that there's so much left to explore and study. It's like, we're just scratching the surface (no pun intended ) of what's out there in those dark, pressurized waters. The tech used to get this footage is insane, I mean $200k isn't cheap . But hey, it's worth every penny if it means we can learn more about these incredible creatures and their habitats. We've gotta keep pushing the boundaries of what's possible and supporting scientists in their quest for knowledge .

I mean come on, $200k to study fish in like, super deep water? That's crazy! What's next gonna be a robotic submersible that costs more than a private yacht ? And don't even get me started on the cost of all those robotic landers... it's getting ridiculous! Like, I get it, science is expensive and all, but can't we just make some of these techs more affordable?

I mean, what's the point of sending robots to 8k meters underwater just to find fish that can already survive down there? It's like searching for gold in a mountain of gold . I get it, scientists want to know more about these creatures, but $200k is a lotta cash for something that's basically asking them if "can we do this, and does it matter?" I'm all for the research, but let's not forget how much money goes into it . And what's with the tiny eyes on those snailfish? Do they even need to see at that depth?

This finding is mind-blowing, especially considering how much we still have to learn about our own oceans . I mean, 8,336 meters is crazy! The fact that scientists can capture footage of a snailfish in its natural habitat is just incredible . It's like having a window into another world down there.

And yeah, the cost of studying these creatures is insane . $200,000 for a robotic lander? That's like funding an entire research team for a year . But I guess that's what happens when we're pushing the boundaries of human knowledge and exploration .

This discovery also makes me wonder about the potential for discovering new species and ecosystems in our oceans . It's like, we have this whole other world down there that's just waiting to be explored . And I'm sure it'll take a lot more than just fancy tech and robots to uncover all its secrets .

omg this is insane! like 27k feet underwater? how do they even survive down there without eyes or swim bladders? and the fact that it's only $200k to get the footage...that's wild i feel bad for the scientists having to break the bank, but can you imagine what other secrets are hiding in those depths? maybe one day we'll have a deep-sea city

im not entirely convinced about this discovery... 8k meters is still way too shallow for most people's definition of "extreme depth". i mean, what's to stop a snailfish from just floating down there? and $200k for those robotic landers? that sounds like a small fortune to me but at the same time, i guess it is kinda cool to see what's living at that crazy depth. but sources? where are they from? are we talking legit scientific journals or some sensationalized article trying to grab clicks?

omg this is insane 8k depths for fish?! like how do they even survive down there? tiny eyes and no swim bladder lol those snailfish are low key superheroes

and $200k for robots? that's wild i guess it makes sense tho if u wanna study these creatures at extreme depths. but what about the scientists themselves? r they getting paid enough to keep exploring?

anyway, its all good we got some sick footage of the deepest fish ever recorded cant wait 4 more discoveries like this

omg can u believe this?? they found fish living at 8k meters underwater i mean, that's crazy! the fact that scientists had never seen anything like it before is wild, and now we get to see what life looks like down there on film . it's def a reminder of how much we still don't know about our oceans and the creatures that live in them .

i'm also loving the robot tech they used to get this footage - $200k is no joke, but think of all the awesomeness you get for the price . seriously though, it's a major breakthrough and a reminder of how important it is to keep funding research that helps us learn more about our planet .

omg this is so cool i mean 8k+ meters is straight up crazy like who knew snailfish could survive that deep? and can u even imagine being a marine biologist trying to study them with robots that cost $200k lol

anyway i think its awesome they got footage of these little guys and it shows us how much we still have to learn about the ocean. like, its not just about saving dolphins or sharks (don't get me wrong i love those creatures too ) but also about understanding the weird and wonderful creatures that live in the deepest parts of our planet.

and im all for funding more research into these areas because honestly the tech we have now is pretty basic compared to what could be out there. its like, imagine robots that can survive even deeper or do something way more effective than just cameras

omg can u believe this?? they actually caught footage of fish living at like 27k feet under the sea! i mean, scientists are still trying to figure out how these snailfish survive in such crazy depths and it's just mind blowing. and the fact that we gotta spend $200k on robots just to do this research is kinda crazy but honestly it's all worth it because we get to learn more about our ocean and its inhabitants. i'm so down for more of this kind of discovery!

I'm like whoa , this is crazy! 8,336 meters is straight up insane ! I mean, we've only just learned that there's life below 8,000 meters, so finding a fish at that depth is a game-changer. And can you even imagine what it'd be like to see that in person? It's mind-blowing.

I'm all for investing in tech and robotics to explore the ocean , but $200k is a lot of cash . I guess it's true what they say about scientists having limited budgets . But hey, if it means we can learn more about these incredible creatures, then it's worth it.

I'm curious to know more about how these fish adapt to such extreme environments . Like, how do they survive with no swim bladder and tiny eyes? It's like they're aliens or something .

omg this is crazy! 8k+ meters below sea level & we still discover new species? it's like, mind blown i mean imagine the pressure & darkness out there... how do they even survive?

"Exploring the unknown can lead to discoveries that change our understanding of the world. This snailfish finding is just the tip of the iceberg - literally, at 27,000 feet under the sea "

The thought of such creatures thriving in those depths is both fascinating and humbling. It's a reminder that we still have so much to learn about our planet and its inhabitants.