In the pitch-black depths of the Atacama Trench, nearly 5 miles below the ocean’s surface, a team of researchers has uncovered a new predator unlike anything previously seen.
The discovery ofDulcibella camanchaca, a sleek and formidable amphipod with raptorial claws, sheds light on the mysterious ecosystems of the hadal zone—the deepest and least explored parts of our planet’s oceans.
“Dulcibella camanchaca is a fast-swimming predator that we named after ‘darkness’ in the languages of the peoples from the Andes region to signify the deep, dark ocean from where it predates,” ecologist and study lead author Dr. Johanna Weston explained in arelease by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI).
A Discovery in the Atacama Trench
Located 160 miles off the coast of Peru and Chile in the eastern Pacific Ocean, the Atacama Trench is one of 46 hadal zone habitats worldwide. With depths ranging between 6,000 and 11,000 meters, hadal zones occupy only 0.25% of the ocean floor but account for the deepest 45% of the ocean, making them the ocean’s deepest known and least accessible habitats.
Atacama Trench
The Atacama Trench stretches along the eastern South Pacific Ocean, plunging to depths exceeding 8,000 meters. Credit: Johanna Weston, ©Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
Watson, a hadal ecologist at WHOI, said the relatively large (nearly four centimeters), fast-swimming, deep-sea predator was named Dulcibella camanchaca after “darkness” in the languages of the people from the nearby Andes region “to signify the deep, dark ocean from where it predates.”
“This study’s collaborative effort and integrative approach confirmed Dulcibella camanchaca as a new species and highlights ongoing biodiversity discoveries in the Atacama Trench,” added Dr. Carolina González, co-lead author from the IMO responsible for sample collection and DNA analysis.
Exploring the Extreme Depths of the Atacama Trench
To explore the extreme depths of the Atacama Trench, which can reach more than 8,000 meters, IMO scientists joined the 2023Integrated Deep-Ocean Observing System (IDOOS) Expedition aboard the R/V Abate Molina.
After establishing a favorable location, the IMO team used an untethered platform designed to transport items to and from the seafloor to collect four specimens of the newly identified Dulcibella camanchaca at a depth of 7,902 meters. Once the specimens were safely aboard the expedition vessel, they were frozen and transported to the Universidad de Concepción for analysis.
Atacama Trench
Ducibella camanchaca is a fast-swimming predator researchers named after “darkness.” Credit: Johanna Weston, ©Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
A detailed morphological study of the specimens confirmed they were amphipods. At nearly 4 centimeters long,Dulcibella camanchaca is a giant among amphipods, an order of crustaceans more commonly known for their scavenging habits. Unlike its scavenger counterparts, this newly described species has raptorial appendages adapted for actively capturing prey.
Following a genetic analysis of the samples, the team determined that their deep-sea predator was an entirely new amphipod species. Combined with the specimens’ unique morphology data, that analysis also provided something completely unexpected.
“Most excitingly, the DNA and morphology data pointed to this species being a new genus too,” said Weston, “emphasizing the Atacama Trench as an endemic hotspot.”
What makesDulcibella camanchaca so compelling is its predatory nature. While scavengers dominate most hadal trenches,Dulcibella camanchaca’s adaptations include sharp claws and a streamlined body designed for swift movement—a stark contrast to the slow-moving scavengers that feed on detritus or carcasses in the same environment.
The researchers hypothesize that this species has adapted to preying on smaller crustaceans or other invertebrates, filling a unique ecological niche.
“Unlike the communities of other hadal subduction trenches, predatory (non-scavenging) amphipods have not been documented or collected from the Atacama Trench,” the researchers wrote of their discovery. “This species expands our understanding of the members of the hadal food web and provides further evidence that the island like Atacama Trench is a hotspot for endemic diversity.”
More Discoveries Waiting to be Found
The extreme pressures, temperatures, and lighting conditions make the world’s hadal zones the most mysterious parts of the mostly unexplored realm. The researchers behind discovering the Atacama Trench predator say exploring them is critical to understanding how life can survive and thrive under these adverse conditions.
Studying these depths is no small feat. For example, equipment failure is common, underscoring the difficulties of deep-sea research. Nonetheless, the presence ofDulcibella camanchaca in traps suggests that the trench harbors even more undiscovered species. “Due to the challenges of sample collection, more species remain uncollected and are likely novel species to science,” researchers noted.
holographic microscope
The team also says that due to its remote location away from other hadal zones, “the Atacama Trench hosts a distinctive community of native species,” with even more previously undiscovered members waiting to be found.
Beyond ocean studies, understanding how organisms likeDulcibella camanchaca have evolved to survive in such environments could also help guide astrobiologists in identifying potential biosignatures or survival strategies of extraterrestrial life.
Ultimately, this amphipod’s discovery highlights life’s remarkable resilience, suggesting that similar adaptations could thrive in some of the most inhospitable environments on our planet—or even in the far reaches of the cosmos.
“This finding underlines the importance of continued deep-ocean exploration, particularly in Chile’s front yard,” said Dr. González, who added that “More discoveries are expected as we continue to study the Atacama Trench.”
The study “A new large predator (Amphipoda, Eusiridae) hidden at hadal depths of the Atacama Trench” was published in Systematics and Biodiversity.
Christopher Plain is a Science Fiction and Fantasy novelist and Head Science Writer at The Debrief. Follow and connect with him onX,learn about his books atplainfiction.com, or email him directly atchristopher@thedebrief.org.
Tim McMillan is a retired law enforcement executive, investigative reporter and co-founder of The Debrief. His writing typically focuses on defense, national security, the Intelligence Community and topics related to psychology. You can follow Tim on X: @LtTimMcMillan.Tim can be reached by email: tim@thedebrief.org or through encrypted email:LtTimMcMillan@protonmail.com