Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteResearchers mapped a previously unmapped seamount on the existing Nazca Ridge, an underwater mountain chain in international waters about 900 miles off Chile. During Schmidt Ocean Institute’s 28-day expedition from July 8 to August 9, 2024, they used shipboard sonar to chart the mountain and an ROV to examine one ridge and record deep-sea animals.
The expedition found sponge gardens, ancient corals and unusual cephalopods. It also produced what the institute describes as the first camera footage of a living Promachoteuthis squid. The results reveal a new feature of a known mountain system—not the discovery of the entire Nazca Ridge.
What exactly was discovered?
The specific discovery was a newly mapped seamount on the Nazca Ridge. A seamount is an underwater mountain that rises from the seafloor but does not reach the ocean surface. The Nazca Ridge itself was already known; the expedition added a detailed map of one previously unmapped feature.
The research vessel’s EM124 multibeam echosounder measured the seafloor across the area. This is a mapping result: sonar revealed the mountain’s shape and dimensions over a broad area. It is different from biological exploration, which took place on a much smaller portion of the feature.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware match#1 Best Overall
How large is the seamount?
Schmidt Ocean Institute reported these measurements for the newly mapped feature:
| Measurement | Reported value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Summit depth | 994 meters below the surface | The shallowest point of the summit remains deep underwater. |
| Base depth | 4,103 meters below the surface | The approximate depth where the mountain rises from the surrounding seafloor. |
| Prominence | 3,109 meters | The summit’s vertical rise above its seafloor base; it is not height above sea level. |
| Reported area | About 70 square kilometers | The mapped footprint reported by the institute. |
Because the summit is still 994 meters underwater, this is not an island or a mountain visible from the surface. The 3,109-meter figure describes relief from the deep seafloor to the summit.
How did researchers study it?
Multibeam sonar mapped the mountain
The ship used the EM124 multibeam echosounder to send sound pulses toward the seabed and measure their return. Repeated passes allowed the team to build a seafloor map and identify the previously unmapped seamount’s outline, summit and surrounding slopes.
Rank #2
An ROV examined one ridge
The remotely operated vehicle (ROV) SuBastian then descended to explore one of the mountain’s ridges. Its cameras provided close observations of animals and habitats. The ROV dives sampled only part of the seamount, so the footage is evidence of life in the surveyed area rather than a complete inventory of the mountain’s ecosystem.
What rare animals were observed?
A live Promachoteuthis squid
The institute reported the first camera footage of a living member of the genus Promachoteuthis. Scientists had previously characterized the genus from dead specimens collected in nets. Seeing a live animal can reveal posture, movement and habitat information that preserved specimens cannot.
The informal “Casper” octopus
The expedition documented the informal “Casper” octopus in the Southern Pacific for the first time, according to the institute. No specimen had been collected, so the animal had not been scientifically described or formally named in that account. “Casper octopus” should therefore be treated as a field nickname, not confirmation of a formally identified new species.
Rank #3
Sponge gardens and ancient corals
ROV observations included dense sponge gardens and ancient corals. These organisms create structure in otherwise dark, high-pressure habitats and can provide surfaces or shelter for other deep-sea animals.
“Flying spaghetti monsters”
The team also observed two Bathyphysa siphonophores, sometimes nicknamed “flying spaghetti monsters.” Siphonophores are colonial animals made up of specialized units that function together, rather than a single simple organism.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →How many new species were involved?
Across ten seamounts visited during the expedition, the team collected 20 suspected new species, as reported by Schmidt Ocean Institute. “Suspected” matters: collection does not by itself establish that every sample is a formally described species. Two earlier 2024 expeditions in the region reported more than 150 previously unknown species, using the institute’s wording.
Species names and formal descriptions require additional taxonomic work. A first sighting, an unusual specimen and a formally described species are different scientific milestones.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why does mapping matter?
Seamounts influence currents and concentrate habitats across otherwise open deep ocean. A reliable map helps researchers return to the same slopes, compare communities among mountains and understand how isolated habitats may be connected.
“Our findings highlight the remarkable diversity of these ecosystems, while simultaneously revealing the gaps in our understanding of how the seamount ecosystems are interconnected,” said Tomer Ketter, co-chief scientist and Schmidt Ocean Institute marine technician.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Best Value
- Used Book in Good Condition
Could the area receive protection?
Schmidt Ocean Institute described the Nazca and adjoining Salas y Gómez ridges as under consideration for a high-seas marine protected area. Expedition maps and biological observations may help inform future policy, but the release did not say that this particular seamount was already protected.
The crew-proposed name for the newly mapped feature was under review by the GEBCO Subcommittee on Underwater Feature Names in the institute’s 2024 release. A proposed name should not be treated as an official final name without a current record from the relevant naming authority.
Quick Recap
What this expedition does—and does not—prove
- It establishes a new detailed map of one seamount on the known Nazca Ridge.
- It documents animals observed by ROV on a surveyed ridge, not every species living across the entire mountain.
- It provides a first reported live observation of Promachoteuthis, according to the institute.
- It records the “Casper” octopus in the Southern Pacific without a collected specimen or formal scientific description in the reported account.
- It identifies conservation relevance as a possible future use of the data, not proof that the site already has protected status.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
