--- title: "Scientists Discover Bizarre New Deep Sea Creatures" description: "A dazzling array of fabulously strange deep sea creatures were just discovered off of Australia's Western Coast — some new, some just very rare." date: "2022-11-08" modified: "2022-11-08" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/scientists-discover-bizarre-new-deep-sea-creatures" categories: - "Science & Energy" tags: - "deep sea" - "ocean" - "ocean floor" - "the digest" --- # Scientists Discover Bizarre New Deep Sea Creatures ![A dazzling array of fabulously strange deep sea creatures were just discovered off of Australia's Western Coast — some new, some just very rare.]() *\Image: Ingo Burghardt\* ## Deepwater Dumpling Ooey-gooey translucent eels! A deepwater dumpling! A silver specimen that walks on little stilts! A dazzling array of fabulously strange deep sea creatures were just discovered off of Australia's Western Coast, where scientists mapped the seafloor of two new marine parks for the very first time. "We are really excited about the prospect of discovering new species, perhaps even new branches of the tree of life," Tim O'Hara, Museums Victoria senior curator of marine invertebrates, said in a [statement]() about the discoveries, "which until now have remained hidden beneath the waves in this unexplored region." And boy, were the researchers right. After trawling the deep sea at depths ranging from nearly 197 feet to roughly 18,045 feet, the scientists returned home with a host of marine creatures — a number of which, as the researchers have estimated, will likely prove to be new to science. ## Carnival of Horrors The researchers are still sorting through the many species they recovered from the reason, though in the meantime they've shown off some [standout discoveries]() — some new, some just very rare. One of the potential newbies? A terrifying, see-through critter that the researchers believe is a type of cusk eel, which is pretty much a [ghostly underwater jelly monster](). "They've got really loose, flabby, gelatinous skin," Museums Victoria senior collections manager Dianne Bray [explained to the *Australian Broadcasting Corporation*](), "and they're incredibly rare." Spooky! Moving on. Next up: an [oddly fleshy kind of batfish](), which looks a bit like a piece of uncooked chicken was turned into a pierogi with a tail. Which might be scary, if it didn't also have an adorable, [Webkinz-esque face](). The researchers also came across the fantastical [tripod fish](), which walks on stilt-like fins on the ocean floor, as well as the amazingly-named "[bony-eared assfish]()," another rare type of deep-sea cusk eel. Perfect animal, [no notes](). "The research outcomes from this voyage will be invaluable to our understanding of Australia's deep-sea environments," Museums Victoria's CEO said in the statement, "and the impact humans are having on them." **More on Western Australian ocean creatures:** *[Scientists Discover Horrifying Crab That's Covered in "Hair"]()* ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()