Technology & Innovation — December 20, 2014

Scientists Discover Fish Living Deeper Than Any Previously Recorded

Scientists exploring the Mariana Trench observed on video an unknown fish species living 8,143 meters (26,713 feet) below the surface.

Robert Montenegro

An eerie fish species has been discovered by scientists exploring the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean. At 8,143 meters deep, the fish in the video below is now the deepest ever recorded specimen:

Just to help you get an idea of how deep this is, a mountain with an elevation of 8,143 meters would be 9th highest peak in the world. Mt. Everest is 8,848 meters high. According to Rachel Feltman of The Washington Post, the previous record for fish species depth was 7,702 meters:

“How do these ghostly fish manage to live at these crushing depths? Deep-sea fish have higher levels of a chemical called trimethylamine oxide(TMAO). TMAO helps proteins maintain their shape as pressure mounts. Fish shouldn’t be able hold enough TMAO in their cells to live below 8,200 meters, according to recent research by [Dr. Alan Jamieson of the University of Aberdeen] — so these new fish may very well be permanent record-holders.”

Read more at The Washington Post

Photo credit: SOI/HADES

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