Turns out, the deep sea is still holding out on us. Scientists with the Ocean Census project have just announced a jaw-dropping 1,121 potential new marine species, including a ghost shark, a carnivorous sponge, and a worm that lives inside a literal glass castle. Because apparently, that's where we are now.
The Ocean Census, a partnership between Japan’s Nippon Foundation and the U.K.’s Nekton, kicked off in April 2023 with a mission: find and identify ocean life before it vanishes. And they're not messing around. In just three years, global scientists have already cataloged over 2,000 marine species, with roughly half of those popping up between April 2025 and March 2026. Michelle Taylor, the head of science for the Ocean Census, shared these delightfully precise numbers.
Life in the Deep End
Among the standout finds is Dalhousiella yabukii, a polychaete worm discovered last year near Tokyo. This little deep-sea tenant lives 791 meters (that’s 2,595 feet) down, making its home inside a glass sponge. These sponges, as their name suggests, construct elaborate, castle-like structures out of silica — the very stuff glass is made of. Sounds cozy, if a bit spiky.
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Start Your News DetoxTaylor describes this unique living arrangement as "a match made in deep-sea heaven." The worm gets a spiny, glass-fortified hideout, and in return, the sponge gets nutrients. It’s a deep-sea symbiotic relationship that makes your roommate situation look decidedly less dramatic. Other new residents include a new ghost shark species lurking off Australia’s Queensland coast and a vibrant ribbon worm making waves near Timor-Leste. Oh, and a new shrimp species, because what's a party without shrimp?
