Fish images have always fascinated me, and in particular those Jacques Cousteau type of

programmes, where they film on the seabed at depths where only blind, white monsters

and the extras of sci fi films tend to hang out. So it was with interest that I read the

article below, taken from a CNN News Blog.

” Scientists have discovered a new species of fish living almost 4 1/2 miles below

the surface of the Pacific Ocean. The ghostly white snailfish was found September 10

in the Peru-Chile trench in the South Pacific by an international team of

marine biologists led by Alan Jamieson of the University of Aberdeen in Scotland.

The scientists also found cusk-eels and crustaceans living in the trench

off the west coast of South America. Those creatures had never before been observed

at such depths, where sunlight never penetrates and water pressure is almost

10,000 pounds per square inch.

“Our findings, which revealed diverse and abundant species at depths

previously thought to be void of fish, will prompt a rethink into marine populations

at extreme depths,” said Jamieson, who led researchers from

Japan and New Zealand in the project. The researchers discovered the creatures

during a three-week expedition during which they took more than 6,000 images

at depths between 4,500 and 8,000 meters. ”

Those who are faint hearted should look away now !

and if you’re still here, then here’s something for the pattern people to look at.