Squat lobster: Galathea sp. The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census / Gallardo. All images courtesy of Ocean Census, shared with permissionOcean Census Expeditions Discover More Than 800 New Marine SpeciesMarch 18, 2025Kate MothesInvolving more than 800 scientists from more than 400 institutions worldwide, Ocean Census has embarked on ten expeditions and numerous workshopsso farwith a sole aim: discovering new species in the worlds greatest frontier. Last week, the organization announced that it had discovered 866 new species, further advancing our understanding of marine biodiversity. Among the finds is a newly identified guitar shark, which belongs to a distinctive group of animals that share characteristics of both sharks and rays.Guitar Shark: Rhinobatos sp. The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census / Sergey BogorodskyAnother revelation is the pygmy pipehorse, which was found off the coast of Africathe first time the genus has been spotted outside of the cool waters of New Zealand. Ocean Census says:These diminutive pipehorses are masters of camouflage, remaining elusive as they inhabit coral reefs and blend seamlessly into their surroundings. Many members of the family Syngnathidaewhich also includes seahorses, seadragons, and pipefishare classified as Threatened on the IUCN Red List due to habitat destruction, bycatch, and targeted fishing.While 866 is a remarkable number of discoveries, Ocean Census has its work cut out. The identification and official registration of a new species can take up to 13-and-a-half yearsmeaning some species may go extinct before they are even documented, says a statement.To address this lag and accelerate identification, the initiative was launched jointly in 2023 by The Nippon Foundation and Nekton with a mission to close critical knowledge gaps before its too late.Pygmy Pipehorse: Syngnathidae. The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census / Richard SmithOceans cover more than 70 percent of our planets surface, but these vast bodies of water remain largely unexplored. Of the estimated one to two million marine species on Earth, only 240,000 are known to science, Ocean Census says.Currently on a 35-day expedition to the South Sandwich Islands, the project joins four additional programs, including Schmidt Ocean Institute, to search for new species off the South Atlantic Oceans volcanic archipelago. Find more on Ocean Censuss website.Gastropod: Turridrupa sp. The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census / Peter StahlschmidtCoral: Octocoral (Maldives). The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census / Asako Matsumoto, ShaaanMollusc: Granulina nekton. The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census / Jess Ortea, Leopoldo MoroSea Star: Tylaster sp. The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census / Martin HartleyCrinoid with Octocoral Attached. Martin Hartley / The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean CensusDetail of Crinoid with Octocoral Attached. Martin Hartley / The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean CensusNext article