A 40-day 2024 expedition along the Salas y Gómez Ridge recorded 160 species not previously known from the region. Researchers suspected that at least 50 might be new to science, but that was a preliminary estimate—not a count of species formally described and confirmed as new.
“Not previously known from the region” is different from “new to science”: a species may already be known elsewhere. The expedition’s findings can inform understanding and management of marine habitats near Rapa Nui, but the research itself did not establish a new protected area.
What scientists found
The Schmidt Ocean Institute’s Unexplored Seamounts of the Salas y Gómez Ridge expedition ran from February 24 to April 4, 2024. Led by Dr. Erin E. Easton of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and Dr. Javier Sellanes of Universidad Católica del Norte, the team examined 10 seamounts and two islands along the ridge, which extends from off Chile toward Rapa Nui, also called Easter Island.
The institute reported 160 species not previously known to live in the region and at least 50 suspected to be new to science. The suspected candidates are included within the regional count; they are not an additional 50 confirmed species.
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| Finding | What it means |
|---|---|
| 160 species | Species reported as not previously known from the surveyed region; this is a regional-record count. |
| At least 50 suspected new species | A preliminary estimate of potential taxonomic novelties, not a confirmed count of formally described species. |
| 10 seamounts and two islands | The features the team closely examined during the expedition. |
| 78,000 square kilometers mapped | The reported area mapped; six seamounts had not previously been documented in hydrographic surveys. |
What “new species” means
A species newly recorded in the Salas y Gómez region may already be known from another place. By contrast, a species “new to science” is one that taxonomists determine has not previously been scientifically described as a distinct species. The expedition’s phrase “at least 50 suspected to be new to science” expressed an early assessment, not a final taxonomic result.
Confirming a suspected new species can require examining specimens, comparing them with known species, and publishing a formal description under the relevant nomenclature rules. The expedition’s 2024 reporting said analysis and confirmation were still needed. The research reviewed for this article does not establish an authoritative updated total of how many candidates have since been formally described.
How the team explored the ridge
The researchers used the remotely operated vehicle SuBastian to observe and study the seafloor. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley reported that the vehicle can descend to 4,500 meters; that is its stated capability, not a claim that every dive reached that depth.
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The Schmidt Ocean Institute reported that the team mapped 78,000 square kilometers, including six seamounts not yet documented in hydrographic surveys. These mapping results describe the expedition’s work, not the number of species found.
What kinds of life were observed?
The institute reported observations of squid, fish, corals, mollusks, sea stars, glass sponges, sea urchins, crabs, and squat lobsters. It also described distinct ecosystems on individual seamounts, including glass sponge gardens and deep coral reefs. These examples do not constitute a verified list of all suspected new species.
The expedition reported a Leptoseris, or wrinkle coral, observation as the deepest-known occurrence of a photosynthesis-dependent animal at the time. This is an attributed record from the expedition’s reporting, not a claim that this article has independently verified it as the current global record.
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Why the findings matter for conservation
Distinct ecosystems on individual seamounts underline why surveys of only a few sites may not represent the whole ridge. Chief Scientist Erin E. Easton said the observations highlight the importance of protecting the entire ridge, not just a few seamounts, according to the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s April 11, 2024 expedition release.
The expedition team said its data could inform management of existing marine protected areas and possible expansion around Rapa Nui. The ridge also includes areas beyond national jurisdiction, and the institute described a high-seas protected area as under consideration—not as an outcome already created by the expedition.
The Rapa Nui Sea Council, Koro Nui o te Vaikava, collaborated with the science team. Council member and expedition observer Marcela Heys said participation offered Rapa Nui an opportunity to know and better understand the marine environment surrounding the island, as reported by the institute.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Were the 50 suspected species officially confirmed as new?
No. The 2024 expedition report described at least 50 as suspected to be new to science. The research reviewed here does not establish an authoritative updated count of formally described species from those candidates.
Does “not previously known from the region” mean new to science?
No. A species can be known from elsewhere but newly recorded in the Salas y Gómez region. The regional count of 160 and the preliminary estimate of at least 50 potential new-to-science species describe different things.
Where is the Salas y Gómez Ridge?
It is an underwater mountain range off Chile that extends west toward Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island or Isla de Pascua. The 2024 expedition examined 10 seamounts and two islands along it.
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Did the expedition create a marine protected area?
No. The expedition provided information that could help inform management and possible expansion of protected areas. The institute described a high-seas protected area as under consideration, not already established by the expedition.
The Bottom Line
The 2024 expedition documented 160 species not previously known from the Salas y Gómez region and estimated that at least 50 might be new to science. The latter figure was preliminary; a regional record is not the same as a formally confirmed new species. The survey also mapped a broad area and documented diverse seamount ecosystems that may inform conservation decisions near Rapa Nui.
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