Our oceans, and the deep ocean in particular, are largely unexplored. To date, 33,000 marine species have been recorded in Australia’s oceans PDF (28.7MB). A further 17,000 have been collected but not yet described.
Incredibly, it's estimated that 91 per cent of Australia’s marine species remain undescribed. However, research conducted by RV Investigator is helping change that!
Uncovering life in our oceans
Since the vessel arrived in 2014, collaborative teams of scientists have been taking to the high seas and using the unique capabilities of RV Investigator to survey, collect and describe life in our oceans. Illustrating just how much life is still to be discovered, across three voyages on RV Investigator in 2015, 2017 and 2018, it was estimated that over 1000 new marine species were collected and are now awaiting description.
Meet some of the new species that have been described from voyages on RV Investigator.
Current count: 106 new species described
New species list
| DATE (PUBLISHED) | VOYAGE | SPECIES COUNT | SPECIES NAME | COMMON NAME | PUBLICATION DOI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19/06/24 | IN2015_C02 | 9 | Clathrina williamsi Leucascus boomerang Ascoleucetta gabensis Ascoleucetta globularis Ascoleucetta parallela Ascoleucetta plana Leucetta conspicua Robspongia vociva Rappya australiensis |
Calcareous sponges | https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlae041 |
| 14/06/24 | IN2022_V09 | 1 | Neomerinthe parallelaspina | Parallel-spine Scorpionfish | https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-024-00975-z |
| 1/03/24 | IN2022_V09 IN2022_V08 IN2017_V03 |
4 | Atheraster phaeos Atheraster umbo Circeaster dux Evoplosoma pharos |
Sea stars | https://doi.org/10.24199/j.mmv.2024.83.01 |
| 8/11/23 | IN2017_V03 | 5 | Radiella nidula Radiella pumix Spinularia flagellata Tentorium labium Ridleia echidna |
Deep-water sponges | https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5369.1.3 |
| 22/09/23 | IN2017_V03 | 1 | Poraniomorpha tartarus | Deep-water sea star | https://doi.org/10.24199/j.mmv.2023.82.06 |
| 20/07/23 | IN2019_V04 | 1 | Hamacantha (Vomerula) levii |
Carnivorous sponge | https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5318.3.4 |
| 12/07/23 | IN2022_V08 | 1 | Heterodontus marshallae | Hornshark | https://doi.org/10.3390/d15070849 |
| 17/05/23 | IN2017_V03 | 1 | Melinna hamulus | Grapple worm | https://doi.org/10.3853/j.2201-4349.75.2023.1803 |
| 17/05/23 | IN2017_V03 | 7 | Aphelochaeta jubata Aphelochaeta readi Chaetocirratulus bathyalis Chaetocirratulus glebalis Chaetozone abyssalis Chaetozone adusta Kirkegaardia glabra |
Polychaete worms | https://doi.org/10.3853/j.2201-4349.75.2023.1799 |
| 17/05/23 | IN2017_V03 | 9 | Ophryotrocha dahlgreni Ophryotrocha hanneloreae Ophryotrocha ravarae Vrijenhoekia timoharai Neanthes adriangloveri Neanthes visicete Orbiniella jamesi Osedax waadjum Osedax byronbayensis |
Polychaete worms incl zombie worms | https://doi.org/10.3853/j.2201-4349.75.2023.1800 |
| 17/05/23 | IN2017_V03 | 7 | Asclerocheilus abyssalis Axiokebuita australis Oligobregma aristata Oligobregma bathyala Oligobregma profunda Oligobregma renuncula Pseudoscalibregma glandipodium |
Polychaete worms | https://doi.org/10.3853/j.2201-4349.75.2023.1827 |
| 17/05/23 | IN2017_V03 | 1 | Spirodiscus ottofinamusi | Tusk worm | https://doi.org/10.3853/j.2201-4349.75.2023.1801 |
| 17/05/23 | IN2015_C01 IN2015_C02 IN2017_C01 IN2017_V03 |
8 | Nothria delta Nothria digitata Nothria josae Nothria simplex Nothria minima Nothria deltasigma Nothria lizae Nothria orensanzi |
Polychaete worms | https://doi.org/10.3853/j.2201-4349.75.2023.1802 |
| 26/04/23 | IN2017_V03 IN2018_V06 |
2 | Boreomysis (Boreomysis) inopinata Boreomysis (Petryashovia) urospina |
Mysid crustaceans | https://doi.org/10.3853/j.2201-4349.75.2023.1845 |
| 3/04/23 | IN2017_V03 | 1 | Heterospio bidentata | Polychaete worm | https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5260.1.1 |
| 2/09/22 | IN2015_C01 IN2015_C02 IN2017_C01 IN2017_V03 IN2018_V06 |
3 | Comispira candida Leucosyrinx jeedara Leucosyrinx truwalamuka |
Deep-water snail | https://doi.org/10.1080/13235818.2022.2102887 |
| 8/04/22 | IN2021_V03 | 1 | Opechonoides opisthoporus | Trematode (parasite) | https://doi.org/10.1007/s11230-022-10034-8 |
| 16/03/22 | IN2017_V03 | 1 | Agathotanais oharai | Shrimp-like crustacean | https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.741536 |
| 31/10/21 | IN2017_V05 | 1 | Chromis sahulensis | Damselfish | https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5601971 |
| 10/08/21 | IN2017_V05 | 1 | Scorpaena sororreginae | Western Queen Scorpionfish | https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-021-00827-0 |
| 2/07/21 | IN2017_V05 | 1 | Tosana dampieriensis | Reef fish | https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4996.1.2 |
| 24/03/21 | IN2018_V06 | 1 | Aurogorgia tasmaniensis | Octocoral | https://doi.org/10.1071/IS20066 |
| 24/02/21 | IN2017_V03 | 55 | Estimated number of new polychaete worms to be described from voyage | Polychaete worms | https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1020.57921 |
| 21/02/21 | IN2017_V03 | 1 | Porcupinella tasmanica | Octocoral | https://doi.org/10.3897%2Fzookeys.1019.61789 |
| 11/01/21 | IN2017_V03 | 1 | Abditoconus investigatoris | Wood-boring bivalve | https://doi.org/10.1080/13235818.2020.1861681 |
| 4/01/21 | IN2019_V04 | 1 | Lycopodina coralseaensis | Carnivorous sponge | https://doi.org/10.17082/j.2204-1478.62.2021.2020-06 |
| 13/11/20 | IN2017_C01 | 3 | Nullarbora heptaxia Abyssocladia oxyasters Lycopodina hystrix |
Carnivorous sponges | https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4878.2.2 |
| 12/08/20 | IN2017_V03 | 2 | Melinnopsis gardelli Melinnopsis chadwicki |
Polychaete worms | https://doi.org/10.3853/j.2201-4349.72.2020.1763 |
| 3/08/20 | IN2017_V03 | 2 | Gesaia csiro Phalacrostemma timoharai |
Polychaete worms | https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4821.3.4 |
| 12/05/20 | IN2017_V03 | 17 | Abyssocladia escheri Abyssocladia annae Abyssocladia gliscofila Asbestopluma (Asbestopluma) maxisigma Cladorhiza australis Cladorhiza poritea Cladorhiza investigator Cladorhiza moniqueae Cladorhiza pentaeiros Chondrocladia (Chondrocladia) freycinetensis Chondrocladia (Chondrocladia) callistemonex Chondrocladia (Chondrocladia) zygainadentonis Lycopodina nikitawimandi Lycopodina helios Lycopodina cassida Lycopodina brochidodroma Euchelipluma claudochela |
Carnivorous sponges | https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4774.1.1 |
| 20/12/19 | IN2017_V03 | 3 | Amphisbetia ramifera Hebella macroplana Lytocarpia parvispiralis |
Hydroids | https://doi.org/10.24199/j.mmv.2019.78.04 |
| 13/12/19 | IN2017_V03 | 2 | Epizoanthus australis Epizoanthus gorgonus |
Cnidarians | https://doi.org/10.1080/14772000.2019.1693439 |
| 30/10/19 | IN2017_V03 | 1 | Bouchetispira ponderi | Deep-sea gastropod | https://doi.org/10.1080/13235818.2019.1681626 |
| 1/07/19 | IN2015_C01 IN2015_C02 IN2017_C01 IN2017_V03 |
37 | Estimated number of new deep-sea crustaceans to be described from voyages | Deep-sea crustaceans | https://doi.org/10.24199/j.mvsr.2019.21 |
| 10/06/19 | IN2017_V03 | 2 | Petta investigatoris Petta williamsonae |
Polychaete worms | https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4614.2.3 |
| 4/06/19 | IN2015_C01 IN2015_C02 |
1 | Tethya irisae | Deep-sea stalked sponge | https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2019.529 |
| 15/05/19 | IN2015_C02 | 1 | Cymonomus triplex | Deep-sea crab | https://doi.org/10.3853/j.2201-4349.71.2019.1682 |
| 15/05/19 | IN2017_V05 | 1 | Gymnapogon velum | Cardinalfish | https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.2854383 |
| 12/04/18 | IN2016_V04 | 1 | Pseudo-nitzschia hallegraeffii | Diatom | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0195622 |
Add your name to the list
Have you named a new species that we've missed? Please let us know so we can add you to the list. Researchers can submit a publication online via the MNF Reporting portal maintained by the NCMI Information and Data Centre.
Visit the NCMI Information and Data Centre
The NCMI Information and Data Centre (IDC) manages all data collected by the Marine National Facility, including via RV Investigator and other vessels.