Giant "whale graveyard" found in Indian Ocean, formed over millions of years

Photo: Nature

Researchers found a large number of whale remains and fossils at an incredible depth — up to 7002 meters below the ocean surface. The discoveries were scattered along the seabed over a distance of about 1200 kilometers. In total, scientists recorded 485 individual finds, making this area the most extensive known accumulation site of whale remains in the deep ocean.

Some of the discovered remains are more than five million years old. Among the most significant discoveries is the skull of an ancient beaked whale, Pterocetus benguelae, approximately 5.3 million years old. Additionally, researchers identified the remains of a previously unknown whale species, named Pterocetus diamantinae. This suggests that the ancient diversity of whales was greater than previously thought.

In addition to ancient fossils, scientists also found relatively modern whale decomposition sites, where the animal's carcass, after sinking to the bottom, becomes a food source for many other organisms. Various deep-sea creatures were found around these "whale falls": crustaceans, mollusks, worms, and other animals. Some of these organisms may turn out to be unknown to science.

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Photo: Nature

Scientists emphasize that dead whales on the ocean floor create entire small ecosystems. The body of a large whale contains an enormous amount of organic matter and can support the life of dozens of different species for many years, even decades. Therefore, such sites are called "whale falls" — they serve as unique oases of life in the food-scarce deep waters.

The discovered zone, according to researchers, could be a special "super corridor" — a large area where, over millions of years, whales accumulated and unique communities of organisms formed. Studying this area allows for a better understanding of how rich and diverse life can be in the deepest parts of the ocean and how animals adapt to extreme conditions.

The authors of the study note that humanity is only beginning to explore deep-sea ecosystems. Therefore, many organisms living at whale decomposition sites may not only be new to science but also represent unique examples of evolutionary adaptations and the emergence of new species.

Previously, scientists reported the discovery of about five thousand unknown species of living creatures in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone in the Pacific Ocean, between Hawaii and Mexico. This is a vast deep-sea area of about six million square kilometers, with depths ranging from four to six kilometers.

Unusual organisms were found there, including the so-called "marmalade squirrel," glass sponges, various types of worms, arthropods, and other invertebrate animals.

However, scientists warn that these poorly studied ecosystems may be threatened by plans for deep-sea mining. Industrial activity on the ocean floor could damage the habitat of numerous rare organisms even before humans have a chance to study them. Therefore, researchers call for a moratorium on such activities to preserve the unique life of the ocean depths.

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