New five-armed creature with blade-like teeth discovered in deep sea

Scientists noticed spear-shaped teeth and overlapping scales. These traits differ from other known brittle star species. Five specimens were brought back to China for study. Research is still going on at the Institute of Deep-Sea Science.

Meanwhile, the Mariana Trench is being explored too. The MEER expedition found 7,000 kinds of microbes there. Shockingly, 90% of them were completely unknown to science.

Detailed photographs of the new brittle star species. (Image: Hasitha Nethupul, Sabine Stöhr, Haibin Zhang / CC BY 4.0)

Brittle Stars vs Starfish: A Sea of Differences

The brittle star family is vast, with over 2,000 types. They are found in oceans all around the globe. From the Arctic to tropical waters, they clean ocean floors. These creatures eat both meat and plants or decaying matter.

Though similar to starfish, they are quite different. Brittle stars have a small disc where organs sit. Their arms move quickly to escape or find food. Starfish, however, have thick arms full of vital organs.

Japanese scientists now use seawater to track them. Bits of DNA left behind help find and count them. This noninvasive method could aid future deep-sea studies.

While starfish can live up to 35 years long, brittle stars survive around five. Starfish also have more arms—some with as many as 50. Still, brittle stars hold their own in the darkest depths. And now, thanks to exploration, their secrets are finally surfacing.