Hidden in the crushing depths of the Atacama Trench off Chile’s northern coast, scientists have unveiled a new species of large predator. This shrimp-like crustacean, named Dulcibella camanchaca, is rewriting what we know about life in the harshest environments on Earth. Imagine a creature thriving where darkness rules and pressure levels could crush steel—this four-centimeter predator is making waves in the science world, proving that even in the most inhospitable places, life finds a way.
The Predator of the Deep
Clocking in at just under four centimeters, Dulcibella camanchaca is anything but ordinary. With its raptorial appendages, it’s built for speed and precision, preying on smaller amphipods in the sparse ecosystem of the hadal zone, where food is as scarce as a sunny day in the trench’s pitch-black waters. Its name, “camanchaca,” is derived from the fog common to Chile’s coastal regions, symbolizing the perpetual darkness of its home.
But don’t be fooled by its size. This amphipod is part of a whole new genus, a rarity that emphasizes just how unique the Atacama Trench is. Sitting more than 8,000 meters below the surface, this isolated abyss acts like a secret vault for endemic species found nowhere else on Earth.
How Scientists Made the Discovery
Uncovering this tiny predator wasn’t a simple “dip a net and see what comes up” kind of operation. The discovery was part of the 2023 Integrated Deep-Ocean Observing System (IDOOS) Expedition, led by a team of international researchers aboard the R/V Abate Molina. Armed with cutting-edge tech, they deployed a baited lander vehicle—a free-falling contraption equipped with traps and cameras—down to the trench’s deepest recesses.
After retrieving the lander, researchers found four specimens of Dulcibella camanchaca at an astounding depth of 7,902 meters. The samples were carefully frozen and sent to the Universidad de Concepción for detailed morphological and genetic analysis, confirming the creature’s status as a new species and genus.
Dr. Johanna Weston from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, a co-lead author of the study, described the collaboration as a pivotal step forward. “This study highlights how integrative approaches can illuminate the biodiversity hidden in these extreme depths,” she said.
The Atacama Trench: A Biodiversity Hotspot
Nestled beneath nutrient-rich waters, the Atacama Trench is geographically cut off from other deep-sea ecosystems, creating a sort of evolutionary island where species like Dulcibella camanchaca thrive. Its discovery sheds light on the trench as an “endemic hotspot,” home to creatures adapted to extreme isolation and pressure.
Co-lead author Dr. Carolina González of the Instituto Milenio de Oceanografía emphasized the need for continued exploration. “The Atacama Trench is practically in Chile’s backyard, and yet we’re only scratching the surface of its biodiversity,” she noted.
Why This Matters
Every new discovery in the hadal zone isn’t just a curiosity—it’s a reminder of the resilience of life and the importance of protecting these fragile ecosystems. As pollution and climate change encroach even on the ocean’s most remote corners, these studies provide critical insights into how life adapts to the extremes.
While Dulcibella camanchaca might not sound as glamorous as a giant squid or a glittering anglerfish, its discovery underscores the ocean’s vast, untapped mysteries. With more expeditions planned, the Atacama Trench is sure to deliver even more surprises in the years to come.
This revelation is just one piece of a larger puzzle that scientists are assembling to understand the full scope of life’s ingenuity—and our responsibility to safeguard it.