Hundreds of new marine species discovered down under!

Dozens of tiny crustaceans, 130 new species of soft corals and 100 small isopods are all new to science

Marine biologists have discovered hundreds of new and rare species while exploring the waters around two remote islands and a reef off the Australian coast.

Scientists conducted in-depth surveys of marine life around the Heron and Lizard islands on the Great Barrier Reef off the country’s northeastern coast, and in the waters around the 170-mile-long Ningaloo reef off the western coast.

Among their findings were an estimated 130 new species of soft corals, several undescribed shrimp-like species - some with claws larger than their bodies - and dozens of tiny crustaceans. They also collected around 100 small organisms called isopods that are believed to be new to science. Some isopods are parasites and burrow into fishes’ mouths and nibble their tongues away.

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