In a find that sounds more science fiction than science, researchers have uncovered a bizarre and fearsome new creature deep in the Atacama Trench – nearly 26,000 feet beneath the waves.
Nicknamed ‘Darkness’, this newly identified predatory amphipod is part of a species so alien in appearance and so extreme in habitat that it’s reigniting curiosity about what else might lurk in the unexplored corners of our planet’s oceans.
The creature, formally named ‘Dulcibella camanchaca’, was discovered during the 2023 IDOOS expedition led by the Instituto Milenio de Oceanografía (IMO) and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI).
Found at 25,925 feet (7,902 meters) using a baited lander vehicle, the animal is now the deepest known predatory amphipod – and its biology is already challenging scientific assumptions about life under such extreme conditions.
The Alien World of ‘Darkness’
Measuring just under 4 centimetres long, Dulcibella camanchaca is no less formidable for its small size.
It uses blade-like raptorial appendages to catch smaller prey – other amphipods that inhabit the nutrient-scarce depths of the hadal zone.
Its body is sleek and agile, built to navigate the crushing pressure and total darkness of the Atacama Trench, where atmospheric pressure is more than 1,100 times that at sea level.
Named after the concept of “darkness” in Andean languages, the creature’s moniker honours both its eerie habitat and its stealthy nature.
“It’s a fast-swimming predator,” said Dr Johanna Weston of WHOI. “It thrives in one of the harshest environments on Earth – and we’re only just beginning to understand how.”
A Forgotten World Rediscovered
What makes this discovery so impactful is not just the creature itself, but the trench it calls home.
The Atacama Trench – also known as the Peru-Chile Trench – is one of the deepest places on Earth. Spanning over 5,900 kilometres along South America’s Pacific coast, this vast abyss remains one of our planet’s final frontiers.
Despite its remoteness and hostile conditions, scientists are beginning to understand the trench as a rich ecosystem rather than an empty void. With limited food and sunlight, its inhabitants have evolved in strange and specialised ways.
The rediscovery of Darkness only reinforces the notion that life in the deep sea is far more complex – and perhaps more widespread – than we’ve imagined.
The emergence of Dulcibella camanchaca from the depths of the Atacama Trench brings with it more questions than answers.
How did such a specialised predator evolve? Could its traits inspire innovations in robotics or deep-space exploration, where similar environmental challenges – low light, high pressure, extreme isolation – exist?
“This species represents not only a new species but a new genus,” noted Dr Carolina González of the Universidad de Concepción. “That suggests we’re looking at an entirely uncharted branch of evolutionary history.”
Its existence is also a reminder of how much remains unknown about our own planet.
With more than 95% of the ocean unexplored, there could be thousands – if not millions – of species like Darkness waiting to be discovered. As researchers from WHOI and IMO continue to study these extreme ecosystems, each new find helps fill in a chapter in Earth’s deep-sea story.
As technology improves, so too does our ability to explore the world’s hadal zones – regions deeper than 6,000 metres.
Remote-operated vehicles, high-resolution imaging, and baited traps are helping researchers reach previously inaccessible depths. But with discovery comes responsibility.
The deep ocean is not immune to human impact. Climate change, pollution, and proposed deep-sea mining could pose significant risks to these delicate, poorly understood ecosystems.
That’s why researchers like Dr González stress the urgency of ongoing exploration – not just for knowledge, but for protection.
Each new species is a reminder of the resilience and adaptability of life. And each scientific breakthrough offers a deeper appreciation of the marvels that exist just beyond our reach.
We continue to learn more about the incredible wonders of the ocean, and reinforce why we must make sure that the cruise industry continues to find ways to minimise its impact with new technologies and eco-friendly fuel sources.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
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