Trinidad and Tobago led its first large‑scale, locally run deep‑sea survey aboard R/V Falkor (too), mapping about 13% of national waters, recording roughly 20 candidate new species and collecting 700+ specimens for the University of the West Indies. The haul could expand the university's deep‑ocean collection about 12‑fold. Scientists documented life from 148 to 3,961 meters, discovered 25 cold seeps and highlighted major knowledge gaps and conservation priorities for the deep Caribbean.
11 Vivid Deep‑Sea Discoveries From Trinidad & Tobago’s First Locally Led Expedition
A Graneledone octopus, a suspected new species, moves across the seafloor during a deep-sea ocean expedition off the coast of Trinidad and Tobago. This species was first observed during an expedition Dr. Diva Amon (SpeSeas) participated in 2014, but was not confirmed or collected until this mission. Researchers made dozens of other discoveries on the trip, including at least 20 suspected new species, three of which may be new genera.
Marine scientists from Trinidad and Tobago completed the country's first locally helmed, large‑scale survey of its deep‑sea waters during a month‑long expedition aboard the research vessel R/V Falkor (too). The team mapped roughly 13% of the nation's marine territory, documented about 20 candidate new species and collected more than 700 specimens for the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine — material that is expected to expand the university's Zoology Museum deep‑ocean collection roughly 12‑fold once catalogued.
Expedition Overview
Expedition chief scientist Diva Amon emphasized the importance of local leadership: "Every new discovery we make, whether ecosystem, species or behavior, deepens our understanding of what's at stake and strengthens our ability to be true stewards of this largely unseen but critical part of our country." The remotely operated vehicle (ROV) SuBastian recorded dozens of rare observations across a range of depths and habitats.
Notable Finds
- Suspected new Porcellanasteridae sea star recorded at 3,961 meters — one of roughly 20 suspected new species observed during the cruise.
- Symbiotic brittle stars filmed clinging to deep‑sea coral, highlighting complex species interactions on the seabed.
- King crab (Lithodes sp.) documented at 1,083 meters while scientists searched for bubble streams and unexplored cold seeps.
- Mobula (manta) carcass fall observed at 1,025 meters — large food falls like this create rich short‑term ecosystems that feed many deep‑sea species.
- Eelpout (Pachycara caribbaeum) recorded resting on a bed of chemosynthetic mussels (Gigantidas childressi), illustrating life supported by seep chemistry rather than sunlight.
- Cold‑water corals photographed at ~1,055 meters, providing three‑dimensional habitat for species such as squat lobsters and other invertebrates.
- Mushroom coral captured at 1,277 meters — a reminder that much of the deep ocean around the islands remains unexplored.
- Black swallower (Chiasmodon niger) filmed at 1,259 meters; its translucent belly revealed a recent, large meal — an example of extreme feeding adaptations in the deep sea.
- Lizardfish observed at 148 meters on a slope inside a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, showing biodiversity spans both mesophotic and deep zones.
- Chimaera (ghost shark) filmed near a cold seep at 2,355 meters, one of many species associated with chemosynthetically fueled communities.
In total, scientists discovered 25 cold seeps during the expedition. These fissures release gases and chemicals from the seafloor that power chemosynthetic ecosystems — biological communities independent of sunlight and often rich in specialized life.
Why This Matters
More than 93% of Trinidad and Tobago's ocean territory lies deeper than recreational scuba limits, placing its largest ecosystems in the mesophotic zone and the deep ocean. Yet less than 0.001% of the nation's deep‑ocean area has been explored to date. The expedition's discoveries — new species candidates, dozens of cold seeps and hundreds of collected specimens — begin to fill critical knowledge gaps and provide data to guide local conservation and management.
"These findings strengthen our ability to be true stewards of this largely unseen but critical part of our country," said Diva Amon.
The collected specimens will support scientific study, museum displays and long‑term monitoring, giving Trinidad and Tobago stronger scientific infrastructure to manage and protect its deep‑sea heritage.
A suspected new species of sea star (Porcellanasteridae) rests on the seafloor at a depth of 3,961 meters. Researchers collected the specimen while making dozens of other discoveries during the expedition, including at least 20 suspected new species.Credit: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute
Symbiotic brittle stars cling to a deep-sea coral off the coast of Trinidad and Tobago. A research team led by marine biologist Dr. Diva Amon (SpeSeas), composed largely of Trinbagonian scientists, surveyed the island nation's deep-water territory to document rare ecosystems and guide local conservation efforts.Credit: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute
A king crab (Lithodes genus) crawls across the seafloor at a depth of 1,083 meters. Top predators in deep-sea environments, researchers documented these crabs while searching for bubble streams associated with unexplored cold seeps.Credit: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute
The science team encountered this rare manta ray (Mobula) fall at 1,025 meters depth off the coast of Trinidad and Tobago. When animals die in the ocean, their bodies often sink to the seafloor, creating a rich food buffet that feeds hundreds of deep-sea species in an often food-scarce environment.Credit: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute
An eelpout (Pachycara caribbaeum) lies on a bed of chemosynthetic mussels (Gigantidas childressi) off the coast of Trinidad and Tobago. Ninety-three percent of Trinidad and Tobago lies below recreational scuba depths, placing its largest ecosystems in the mesophotic zone (between 30 and 199 meters) and the deep ocean. The geological setting of the two islands is ideal for supporting chemosynthetic habitats.Credit: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute
A cold-water coral recorded at a depth of 1,055 meters (3,461 feet) provides habitat for marine life on the seafloor. While warm-water coral reefs at shallow recreational depths are widely known, deep-sea cold-water corals are far more abundant yet remain understudied. These complex ecosystems support diverse marine species, including squat lobsters, as pictured here.Credit: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute
A mushroom coral rests on the seafloor at a depth of 1,277 meters off Trinidad and Tobago. Less than 0.001% of the island nation's deep-ocean territory has been explored due to technological constraints, leaving significant knowledge gaps about deep-water marine life in the region.Credit: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute
A black swallower fish (Chiasmodon niger) swims at a depth of 1,259 meters during a remotely operated vehicle dive off Trinidad and Tobago. Known for their expandable stomachs and dislocating jaws, these rare deep-sea fish can swallow prey larger than themselves. This specimen's translucent belly reveals a recent meal. A research team led by marine biologist Diva Amon conducted the first comprehensive deep-water survey of the nation's ocean territory, where more than 93% of the waters lie below recreational diving depths.Credit: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute
Scientists observed this lizardfish at a depth of 148 meters while exploring a slope off the coast of Trinidad and Tobago in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.Credit: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute
A chimaera, or ghost shark, swims near a cold seep at a depth of 2,355 meters. Scientists discovered 25 cold seeps during the recent deep-sea expedition. Unlike sunlight-dependent ecosystems, marine life near these seafloor fissures relies on chemosynthetic energy generated by gas escaping from the Earth's surface.Credit: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute
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