Palo Alto, California, USA – An international team of scientists, led by Uruguay, has discovered thriving deep-sea coral reefs off Uruguay’s coast during a Schmidt Ocean Institute expedition that concluded on September 19. The exploration revealed bustling reef fields, at least 30 potential new species, and the previously unvisited wreck of the ROU Uruguay.

The reefs, formed by the slow-growing, cold-water coral Desmophyllum pertusum, were healthier, larger, and more diverse than expected. One reef complex measured 1.3 square kilometers at a depth of 300 meters, with a mound reaching 40 meters high. “We always expect to find the unexpected, but the diversity and complexity of what we found exceeded all our expectations,” said chief scientist Dr. Alvar Carranza of the Universidad de la República.

Using the remotely operated vehicle SuBastian aboard R/V Falkor (too), the team observed temperate and subtropical species supported by converging warm and cold currents. Colorful residents included bellowsfish, slit shell snails, groupers, and sharks. Data collected will help guide Uruguay’s marine resource management and indicate more vulnerable marine ecosystems may exist.

The expedition documented hundreds of species never before recorded in Uruguayan waters, including crystal squids, dumbo octopuses, and tripod fish, alongside at least 30 suspected new species of sponges, snails, and crustaceans. The team also studied worms living on cold seeps near the reef, showing distinct energy sources between the two communities.

For the first time, scientists explored the wreck of the ROU Uruguay, a former cannon-class destroyer that now serves as a reef habitat. Observations included an ovulid sea snail feeding on gorgonian soft coral, a rare sight in these cooler waters.

“This expedition reveals the hidden depths of the oceans and transforms the way we perceive our world,” said Dr. Leticia Burone. Schmidt Ocean Institute’s Executive Director Dr. Jyotika Virmani added that the 100th expedition was a milestone celebrated with Uruguay’s President Yamandú Orsi, who visited the vessel before departure.

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