A collection of new species discovered on the seafloor shows just how alien this strange world is. In the Clarion-Clipperton region of the Pacific Ocean between Mexico and Hawaii, marine scientists have discovered animals that humanity has never seen before: creatures that live a completely different life in the permanent darkness of the abyss.

“These areas are the least explored on Earth. It is estimated that only one in ten animal species living here has been described by science,” says Thomas Dahlgren, a marine ecologist at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden.

“This is one of the few cases where researchers can be involved in the discovery of new species and ecosystems, just like they did in the 18th century. It’s very exciting.”

Below a certain depth, the ocean becomes extremely hostile to humanity. The weight of the water creates crushing pressure; sunlight cannot penetrate the water as much, resulting in constant darkness; and the temperature is low, just a few degrees above zero. However, our technologies can go where humans cannot.

An international team of researchers collaborating on the UK National Oceanography Centre’s Seabed Mining and Experimentation Resilience (SMARTEX) mission sent a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to depths between 3,500 and 5,500 meters (11,480 and 18,045 feet) in Clarion-Clipperton .

Life is not easy there. For food, most of the organisms that live on the cliff’s seafloor depend on organic matter raining down from the upper layers of the ocean, a phenomenon known as marine snow, and occasional whale falls. It seems that most life here is associated with filter feeders and sediment feeders: animals that can make the most of this meager food source.

One of the most impressive discoveries made during the expedition was the transparent sea cucumber, nicknamed unicumber, belonging to the family Elpidiidae.

“These sea cucumbers were some of the largest animals found on this expedition,” Dahlgren explains.

“They act like vacuum cleaners on the ocean floor and specialize in finding sediment that passes through the fewest stomachs.”

Other creatures include the soft glass sponge, a cup-shaped filter feeder that has the longest lifespan of any animal on Earth, up to 15,000 years; almost worm-like, long-bodied tanaida crustacean; starfish, corals, anemones; and a gorgeous pink Barbie guinea pig.

Dolphins are a species of deep-sea sea cucumbers, also belonging to the family Elpidiidae. They are chubby and fluffy, usually pink in color, and move around on their cute little feet.

Barbie guinea pig belongs to the Amperina genus, as it is known by its name. This is a particularly bright shade of pink, with tender feet at the ends of the legs.

Scientists will work hard to learn more about all these magnificent creatures, but we already know one thing: The diversity of life on the ocean floor needs more attention and protection.

The area of ​​Clarion-Clipperton County studied by the researchers is used for deep-sea mining, which can have devastating effects on marine habitats.

“Lack of food forces individuals to live far apart, but the species richness in this region is surprisingly high. We see many impressive specialized adaptations among animals in these regions,” says Dahlgren.

“We need more information about this environment to be able to protect the species that live here. Today, 30 percent of these marine areas are protected and we need to know whether this is enough to ensure that these species are not at risk of extinction.”