Marine scientists recently unlocked one of the greatest mysteries of the deep Pacific Ocean, with a discovery that redefines our understanding of the longevity of marine life. A Monorhaphis chunia glass sponge, has emerged from the shadows of the South China Sea as a true relic of the past, an astonishing 17,000 years old.
Ancient creatures discovered in the ocean
Image: Mysteries of the World/Reproduction
The South China Sea, one of the world’s most enigmatic and little-explored marine regions, is now home to the oldest known living thing. science. The discovery of Monorhaphis chunia glass sponge, represented a turning point in marine research.
But what makes this creature so special? In addition to its incredible longevity, the Monorhaphis chuni plays a fundamental role in the deep-sea ecosystem. Acting as a natural filter, this sponge removes plankton and bacteria from the water, while at the same time altering the chemical composition of the marine environment.
One of the most intriguing aspects of Monorhaphis chuni is the impact it has had on the environment over the millennia. Scientists, through meticulous analysis of the rings that make up the sponge’s stem, made a remarkable discovery: the concentration of silica, a key component for the health of the oceans, was 12% higher in an era that corresponds to the end of the last Ice Age.
This finding suggests that increased production of diatoms, which are microalgae that absorb carbon dioxide, could have played a crucial role in reducing atmospheric CO2, thus contributing to climate cooling.
Additionally, the Pacific Ocean has revealed another surprising secret, this time off the coast of California. Marine ecologist Jeff Goddard made a remarkable discovery when he found living specimens of a mollusk that was believed to be extinct 40,000 years ago.
These small, translucent bivalves, with bright white, striped feet, were initially photographed and later identified as a species previously known only from fossil records.
Paul Valentich-Scott, a mollusc expert, tracked down the scientific literature and confirmed that the living specimens and the fossils were the same species. This rare discovery highlights the ability of ocean of revealing long-lost secrets and the importance of continued research to understand our marine world.
