12 'rare and new' species discovered in Verde Island Passage
Meet spectacular sea slugs, sea urchins, and starfish that further affirm the Philippines' reputation as a hotspot for marine biodiversity
Pia Ranada, Rappler
TREASURES. Multi-colored tunicates lend a festive vibe in the Verde Island Passage. Image courtesy Gary Williams/California Academy of Sciences
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines now has more than 100 new species of marine life to boast of.
A recent expedition in the Verde Island Passage (VIP) led by the California Academy of Sciences yielded "rare and new" species, affirming Philippine seas as a hotspot for marine biodiversity.
Among the country's newly-discovered aquatic residents are flamboyant sea slugs, delicate comb jelly, and flat worms in flashy colors.
Dr Terry Gosliner, head of the expedition, says his favorite find is a new sea slug of the Halgerda genus.
"I have been studying this group for many years and finding another new species in this group was a real surprise," he told Rappler.
Academy researchers will study the newly-found species in the coming months using DNA sequencing and other technology.
The Verde Island Passage is tagged as the "center of the center of marine biodiversity" and is part of the Coral Triangle – an area which covers only 2% of the world's oceans yet hosts 76% of the world's coral species.
Here are some beautiful creatures discovered during the expedition with short descriptions from Gosliner: Read full story with more photos on Rappler
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| Thorunna species |
This bright purple nudibranch (sea slug) with an orange margin has intense colors to warn predators that it is toxic.
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| Stilger species |
This sap-sucking sea slug was found on green algae in shallow reefs off Verde Island.
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| Neoferdina species |
This spectacular new starfish was found below 100 meters off of Verde Island.
