Mariana Trench – Marine biologists have officially named a new genus and species of glass sponge discovered at a depth of 2,028 meters (6,654 feet) near the Mariana Trench, with the creature’s alien-like appearance earning it the nickname “E.T. sponge.” The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a United States federal agency that conducts ocean exploration and research to understand marine environments and discover new species. NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer is the federal vessel used for these deep-sea exploration missions in the Pacific Ocean.

This discovery involved taxonomic research, which is a scientific process where researchers examine physical specimens under powerful microscopes to analyze skeletal elements called spicules that help identify and classify different sponge species. Dr. Cristiana Castello Branco, a postdoctoral researcher, made the discovery while working under Dr. Allen Collins, who directs the NOAA Fisheries National Systematics Laboratory located at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (NMNH). This research helps scientists document marine biodiversity, which refers to the variety of living organisms in the ocean and how they are interconnected in marine ecosystems.

The newly named Advhena magnifica was first collected in 2016 during a NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer expedition and officially described in 2020 in a peer-reviewed scientific paper. The discovery was significant enough that the species made the World Register of Marine Species’ (WoRMS) list of top-10 remarkable new marine species of 2020. Glass sponges are called “glass” because their skeletons are made of silica, the same material as glass, and they contain fascinating tissues with many nuclei within a single membrane that help conduct electrical signals.

Alien-Like Features Drive Scientific Naming

The sponge’s distinctive appearance includes what looks like a long thin neck, an elongated head, and two large holes that resemble alien eyes, leading researchers to name it after the Latin word “advena,” meaning alien, visitor, foreigner, or immigrant. These large holes, scientifically called oscules, serve as openings through which the sponge pumps water after filtering it for food particles like bacteria and other small prey in internal chambers. The species epithet “magnifica” refers to the species’ magnificent, beautiful appearance.

“We usually try to associate the name to something unique about that species, or we can honor someone, the expedition name, or a locality,” explained Dr. Cristiana Castello Branco, the researcher who discovered and named the species. Dr. Castello Branco was a PhD student at NMNH when she made the discovery, working under the supervision of Dr. Allen Collins from NOAA Fisheries. “In the case of Advhena magnifica, the shape of this sponge is reminiscent of an alien, like in the movies, with what looks like a long thin neck, an elongated head, and huge eyes.”

The specimen was collected during exploration of a seamount near the Mariana Trench and sent to the National Museum of Natural History for long-term preservation and study. Like all biological samples collected during Okeanos Explorer expeditions, the “E.T. sponge” was archived in the museum’s scientific collections, where the two distinctive holes that give it an alien appearance are clearly visible.

Deep-Sea Exploration Reveals “Forest of the Weird”

The discovery gained additional significance in July 2017, when scientists exploring a seamount during another NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer expedition encountered what Dr. Chris Mah of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History dubbed the “Forest of the Weird.” Dr. Mah gave this name due to the extraordinary diversity of prominent sponges rising up on stalks with their bodies oriented to face the predominant current carrying tiny food particles. Among the different sponges within this alien-like community was the distinctive sponge with a body featuring two large holes reminiscent of the alien from the movie E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial.

NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer is the federal vessel dedicated to exploring unknown ocean areas, equipped with technology that allows scientists to study deep-sea environments that would be impossible for human divers to reach safely. The ship uses remotely operated vehicles and other advanced equipment to collect specimens and capture images from extreme ocean depths where pressure and darkness make direct human exploration impossible.

Scientific Process Behind Species Discovery

“It is a long process between when we first see a specimen and when we can give it a name,” explained Dr. Castello Branco, describing the meticulous scientific methodology required for species identification. To determine if a sponge represents a new species, researchers must analyze the skeletal elements called spicules using powerful microscopes, as the types of spicules and their organization vary across different sponge types. Scientists must then compare their findings to all known species within related groups to determine if the specimen is previously unknown to science.

For the “E.T. sponge,” Dr. Castello Branco initially thought it might be a new species of Bolosoma, a genus she had been studying, but microscopic examination revealed spicules unlike those from any known species. Scientists used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to capture detailed images of spicules, with some features measuring about 20 micrometers across, and supplemented these with scientific illustrations because spicules are delicate and sometimes incomplete. The discovery of a new genus indicates that the sponge is fundamentally different from all previously known sponge groups, emphasizing how little scientists know about deep-sea biodiversity.

Ecosystem Role and Marine Biodiversity

Sponges represent one of the most diverse and abundant groups of organisms on the ocean bottom, with huge impacts on marine ecosystems as filter-feeding animals capable of maintaining the balance of microflora and fauna. Many sponges are large and provide structure around which other organisms live, while also playing important roles in transforming nitrogen and carbon in the ocean. As sessile (attached) animals, sponges defend themselves by producing chemical compounds that may be useful in treating human diseases, making deep-sea sponge biodiversity studies important for future environmental management and bio-prospecting research.

Glass sponges have unique biological features, including tissues that conduct electrical signals across the sponge body, enabling them to respond quickly to external stimuli despite lacking a traditional nervous system. “Discovering new species of deep-sea sponges is fairly common, and while the group is very diverse, we still know very little about it,” noted Dr. Castello Branco. “We don’t even know how many species we still have to discover in the deep ocean, but it is a big number.”

Future Deep-Sea Discovery Potential

The discovery of Advhena magnifica demonstrates the vast potential for finding new marine life in deep-sea environments, where scientists estimate many unknown species await discovery. By documenting and describing marine biodiversity, researchers build better understanding of life on Earth and the impact of humans on ocean ecosystems. The identification of a new genus particularly emphasizes how little scientists know about deep-sea environments and their inhabitants.

For young people interested in pursuing careers discovering new species, Dr. Castello Branco recommends applying for internships and finding what captures their attention and passion. She began working with sponges as an undergraduate intern and fell in love with the field, eventually pursuing advanced degrees to study deep-sea sponges. “It is not that easy, but as long as you are doing what you really enjoy, it is worth it,” she advised.

The study describing Advhena magnifica was published in 2020 based on specimens collected during 2016 NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer expeditions near the Mariana Trench. The research involved detailed microscopic analysis of sponge skeletal structures and comparison with existing taxonomic databases. Such taxonomic studies require extensive laboratory work and peer review to ensure new species descriptions meet scientific standards for official recognition.

Key Takeaways

• Scientists discovered Advhena magnifica, a new genus and species of glass sponge resembling an alien with distinctive eye-like openings.
• The discovery required extensive microscopic analysis of skeletal elements to distinguish it from all previously known deep-sea sponge species.
• This finding demonstrates significant marine biodiversity remains undiscovered in deep-ocean environments that require advanced technology to explore.

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