科学者チームが、ガラパゴス諸島沖の深海で採取された標本を調査した結果、ゴルフボール大の青いタコがこれまで知られていなかった新種であることを確認した。
このタコは「Microeledone galapagensis」と名付けられ、2015年にダーウィン島付近で行われた探査船E/Vノーチラス号による深海探査の際に初めて観察された。チャールズ・ダーウィン財団とガラパゴス国立公園局の研究者らは、遠隔操作無人探査機（ROV）を使用して水深約5,800フィート（約1,770メートル）の地点でこの生物を発見した。研究チームは標本1点を採取し、同種の別の2個体についても映像を記録した。
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A mother-and-daughter duo of citizen scientists has uncovered the largest known coral colony on Australia's Great Barrier Reef, measuring 111 meters across and covering nearly 4,000 square meters. The J-shaped formation of Pavona clavus was found during a dive as part of the Great Reef Census initiative. Advanced 3D modeling confirmed its size, highlighting the role of community involvement in marine conservation.
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A team of international researchers has accused the US government of hastening the collapse of coral reefs around Guam through military expansions and proposed rollbacks to the Endangered Species Act. In a letter published in Science this month, they highlight how national security priorities are overriding conservation efforts. Without changes, these reefs face functional extinction similar to those in Florida.
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An international team of scientists has started the EuroWorm project to create an open-access genomic database of European marine annelids, aiming to discover species before they vanish. Led by the Leibniz Institute for Biodiversity Change Analysis, the initiative focuses on these vital segmented worms that support ocean ecosystems. The effort combines museum collections with modern genomics to accelerate global biodiversity research.
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