Scientists uncover new deep-sea lanternshark and porcelain crab off Western Australia

Six specimens collected off Western Australia’s coast during the 2022 RV Investigator voyage helped scientists describe the newly identified West Australian Lanternshark. (Image: CSIRO Australian National Fish Collection)

Explorers of Australia’s deep-sea waters have revealed two species unknown to science. Researchers recently described a new lanternshark and a porcelain crab from specimens collected in 2022.

Where were these species found?
The new lanternshark, E. westraliensis, was discovered in the Gascoyne Marine Park at depths down to 610 metres. This small shark measures just 407 millimetres and has large eyes adapted for deep-sea vision. Its slender body has dorsal fins with sharp spines, and it glows thanks to photophores on its belly and flanks. Dr Will White, an ichthyologist from CSIRO’s Australian National Fish Collection, confirmed the bioluminescent feature gave lanternsharks their common name.

The porcelain crab was found along the Ningaloo coast at depths to 122 metres. Dr Andrew Hosie from the Western Australian Museum described the opalescent white-yellow crab, which lives symbiotically among the leaves of sea pens, a type of soft coral. The small crab, around 15 millimetres long, is a filter feeder, sweeping plankton from the water with modified mouthparts rather than claws.

The newly identified porcelain crab camouflages itself within corals of matching hues. (Image: CSIRO / Cindy Bessey)

How were these species discovered?
Both species were collected during a 2022 CSIRO-led voyage on the research vessel RV Investigator. The shark joins two other species described from the same expedition: the painted hornshark and ridged-egg catshark, announced in 2023. The porcelain crab adds to the growing list of discoveries from the voyage, which already includes the Carnarvon flapjack octopus described earlier this year. Scientists estimate that as many as 600 species have yet to be described from the expedition.

What are the implications for marine science?

The deep sea is still poorly explored, and these surveys are crucial to understanding ocean biodiversity. The next CSIRO-led voyage will map the Coral Sea Marine Park, with past researchers joined by new partners.

RV Investigator, part of Australia’s Marine National Facility, is funded by the Australian Government and operated by CSIRO. Scientists hope the expedition will reveal more species new to science, further expanding knowledge of deep-sea life in Australia’s waters.