Secrets of the underwater world

Earth's underwater world holds many secrets waiting to be unraveled. Scientists continue to discover new species and unusual organisms, and their research leads to fascinating discoveries, such as the mysterious eel-like creature from the Amazon or a giant fragment of an unknown creature found off the coast of Chile. Arctic expeditions reveal a wealth of life in extreme geological conditions, and deep-sea exploration uncovers previously unknown species.

To become a 21st-century explorer, you don't have to journey to the ends of the universe. There are still places on Earth that haven't even been accurately mapped. New species of fish, an unidentified fragment of a sea creature from Chile, and incredible deposits of life beneath the Arctic ice, where hot springs bubble. These are the surprises researchers have recently discovered.

Only a small portion of the Amazonian opossum has been studied by scientists. This tropical forest area, larger than Eastern Europe, is home to over 30 percent of all animals and plants on Earth. Scientists in Brazil discovered an unusual species of fish there in July. "It has a slender body, like an eel, and a tail like a pirarucu, one of the longest freshwater fish," Jansen Zuanon, director of the Brazilian Institute for Amazonian Research (NPA), describes the find. The creature measures about 15 centimeters.

Unfortunately, its identity has not yet been determined. "It still doesn't have a name," says Zuanon. "We simply call it the mystery fish because it's so different from other species."

The pseudo-eel is a mysterious Amazonian fish. It's only 15 cm long and feeds on shrimp and aquatic insects. It breeds only during the rainy season.

Everything points to the Amazonian find being a new species, requiring the creation of a new species group in the classification. It feeds on small shrimp and aquatic insects. It is not yet known why it breeds only during rain. Scientists in Brazil predict that the pseudo-eel will be classified before the end of this year.