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Scientists have discovered two previously unknown species of deep-sea animals, providing new insights into how marine life evolves in the vast open ocean. In a study published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, researchers from the University of Gdańsk in Poland, New York University, Yale University, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute in California investigated a group of marine organisms called Bargmannia siphonophores. These unusual creatures are relatives of jellyfish and corals, belonging to the animal group Cnidaria. Unlike ordinary individual animals, siphonophores consist of colonies of specialized units called zooids that work together to swim, capture food, and reproduce. The researchers discovered two new species, named Bargmannia marlena and Bargmannia pyrosa, highlighting how much biodiversity remains unexplored in the deep ocean.

To investigate these mysterious animals, the scientists combined genetic analysis, detailed examinations of preserved museum specimens, and underwater observations collected using remotely operated vehicles. They examined 155 preserved specimens and studied differences in swimming structures, feeding tentacles, reproductive organs, and DNA. One newly identified species, Bargmannia marlena, has distinctive orange feeding structures and was discovered in deep waters off California. The other, Bargmannia pyrosa, has striking reddish coloration, reflected in its scientific name, which means “fire-colored.” Both species were distinguished from their relatives through combinations of physical characteristics and genetic evidence. The findings also helped researchers correct earlier classifications in which different species had been grouped together.

One of the most interesting discoveries involved how different Bargmannia species occupy the ocean. Although some species live in the same geographical regions, they tend to inhabit different depth ranges. This suggests that differences in water depth and associated environmental conditions may help populations become separated and eventually evolve into distinct species, even without physical barriers such as mountains or continents. Genetic comparisons also revealed two major evolutionary groups within Bargmannia. One group showed unusually rapid changes in mitochondrial genomes, which contain genes involved in cellular energy production. These genetic differences occurred alongside changes in reproductive organization, suggesting a possible evolutionary relationship that requires further investigation.

The research demonstrates that the deep ocean contains complex patterns of biodiversity that scientists are only beginning to understand. Differences in swimming structures, feeding equipment, genetics, and preferred depths may allow closely related siphonophores to occupy different ecological niches. The discovery also highlights the importance of underwater exploration, museum collections, and modern DNA technology in identifying species that might otherwise remain unnoticed. By improving our understanding of how marine organisms adapt and diversify, the study provides valuable information for evolutionary biology, marine ecology, and future investigations of deep-sea ecosystems. According to Mańko et al. (2026), examining the combined effects of genetics, anatomy, and environmental conditions can help explain how new species emerge in an ocean that appears to have few obvious geographical barriers.

Reference

Mańko, M. K., Church, S. H., Ramirez, D. A., Haddock, S. H. D., & Dunn, C. W. (2026). Integrating mitogenomes, morphology, and ecology reveals depth-structured diversification and two new species of deep-sea Bargmannia siphonophores (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 208(2), zlag150. https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlag150

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