‘Lost world’ of marine life found

A “lost world” of previously unknown species is thriving in a deep sea hotspot near Antarctica, scientists have discovered.

Researchers operating a robot submersible found a plethora of unidentified creatures including crabs, starfish, barnacles, sea anemones and an octopus.

The communities were living around volcanic vents deep beneath the Southern Ocean, where temperatures can reach 382C.

Hydrothermal vents create a unique environment lacking in sunlight but rich in life-sustaining minerals.

Alex Rogers, from Oxford University’s Department of Zoology, who led the research, said: “Hydrothermal vents are home to animals found nowhere else on the planet that get their energy not from the Sun but from breaking down chemicals, such as hydrogen sulphide.

The discoveries were described last Tuesday in the online journal Public Library of Science Biology.