Shinkai 6500 Dives Uncover Dozens Of New Species In Japan's EEZ
A deep-sea expedition using the Shinkai 6500 submersible has identified 38 new species and 28 potential new species in Japan's deep-sea regions. Researchers are now using genetic barcoding to better understand the distribution and evolution of deep-sea organisms like the Phymorhynchus snail.
Why it matters
These findings significantly expand scientific knowledge of deep-sea biodiversity and the evolutionary processes that allow life to thrive in extreme environments.
Supported by JAMSTEC’s research vessel Yokosuka and the crewed submersible Shinkai 6500 , the expedition carried out ten deep-sea dives across a range of habitats, including volcanic seamounts and methane seep ecosystems.
The results have already transformed our understanding of Japan’s deep-sea biodiversity. Scientists have confirmed 38 new species and identified a further 28 potential new species from two of Japan’s deep-sea regions: the Nankai Trough and the underexplored Shichiyo Seamount Chain .
Following the expedition, taxonomists from Japan and around the world gathered at JAMSTEC headquarters in Yokosuka in October 2025 for a dedicated Species Discovery Workshop . Together, they assessed the collected material, confirmed species identifications, and accelerated the process of formally describing new species for publication.
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