Ocean Census
@oceancensus.bsky.social
The largest global mission to discover ocean life 🔎🐙 Founded by Nekton & The Nippon Foundation. Endorsed by the UN Ocean Decade.
Website: oceancensus.org/
Join the Science Network: oceancensus.org/science/
Website: oceancensus.org/
Join the Science Network: oceancensus.org/science/
Pinned
Ocean Census
@oceancensus.bsky.social
· Oct 29
Carnivorous “Death-Ball” Sponge Among 30 New Deep-Sea Species from the Southern Ocean
Thirty previously unknown deep-sea species, including a carnivorous “death-ball” sponge, have been confirmed from one of the most remote parts of the planet by The Nippon Foundation–Nekton Ocean Censu...
oceancensus.org
Announcement: 30 new species discovered from expeditions to the Southern Ocean. Read more 👇
oceancensus.org/press-releas...
@schmidtocean.bsky.social #NewSpecies
oceancensus.org/press-releas...
@schmidtocean.bsky.social #NewSpecies
Spotlighting another super scientist from the Ocean Census Science Network
Meet Ernest 👋 who's currently leading an expedition along the coastline of Cameroon. Ernest was awarded an Ocean Census Expedition Award last year, providing funding to help support his expedition.
Meet Ernest 👋 who's currently leading an expedition along the coastline of Cameroon. Ernest was awarded an Ocean Census Expedition Award last year, providing funding to help support his expedition.
January 22, 2026 at 8:00 AM
Spotlighting another super scientist from the Ocean Census Science Network
Meet Ernest 👋 who's currently leading an expedition along the coastline of Cameroon. Ernest was awarded an Ocean Census Expedition Award last year, providing funding to help support his expedition.
Meet Ernest 👋 who's currently leading an expedition along the coastline of Cameroon. Ernest was awarded an Ocean Census Expedition Award last year, providing funding to help support his expedition.
Reposted by Ocean Census
A familiar friend...but in TASMANIA! Hippasteria phrygiana! A near cosmopolitan species found in Atlantic, Pacific and Indian waters-generally predators on cnidarians-esp. octocorals-showing off prominent pedicellariae and big ass spines! thanks @drtimohara.bsky.social @oceancensus.bsky.social
January 20, 2026 at 8:34 AM
A familiar friend...but in TASMANIA! Hippasteria phrygiana! A near cosmopolitan species found in Atlantic, Pacific and Indian waters-generally predators on cnidarians-esp. octocorals-showing off prominent pedicellariae and big ass spines! thanks @drtimohara.bsky.social @oceancensus.bsky.social
Reposted by Ocean Census
Colleague Dr. Kate Naughton shares what *could* be a new species of green isocrinid stalked crinoid from the #CoralSeaFrontier expedition! Part of the @oceancensus.bsky.social workshop hosted by @drtimohara.bsky.social at Museum Victoria!
January 19, 2026 at 9:48 AM
Colleague Dr. Kate Naughton shares what *could* be a new species of green isocrinid stalked crinoid from the #CoralSeaFrontier expedition! Part of the @oceancensus.bsky.social workshop hosted by @drtimohara.bsky.social at Museum Victoria!
Reposted by Ocean Census
A spiny friend called Calliaster spinosus! Most likely not seen since Hubert Lyman Clark described it in 1916! #coralseafrontiers thanks to @oceancensus.bsky.social @drtimohara.bsky.social
January 20, 2026 at 8:57 AM
A spiny friend called Calliaster spinosus! Most likely not seen since Hubert Lyman Clark described it in 1916! #coralseafrontiers thanks to @oceancensus.bsky.social @drtimohara.bsky.social
Reposted by Ocean Census
A new species of mud star being described from >1000 m collected during the #coralseafrontiers expedition, Note how the tube feet are pointed rather than suckered. This is a common feature of stars that live on muddy/sandy bottoms! via @oceancensus.bsky.social @drtimrideout.bsky.social
January 21, 2026 at 9:05 AM
A new species of mud star being described from >1000 m collected during the #coralseafrontiers expedition, Note how the tube feet are pointed rather than suckered. This is a common feature of stars that live on muddy/sandy bottoms! via @oceancensus.bsky.social @drtimrideout.bsky.social
We talk about taxonomy a lot, it's true. But what is it, and why is this branch of biology so important?
Read more in our All About Taxonomy article here: oceancensus.org/understandin...
Read more in our All About Taxonomy article here: oceancensus.org/understandin...
January 21, 2026 at 8:00 AM
We talk about taxonomy a lot, it's true. But what is it, and why is this branch of biology so important?
Read more in our All About Taxonomy article here: oceancensus.org/understandin...
Read more in our All About Taxonomy article here: oceancensus.org/understandin...
One of our favourite sea star scientists has arrived at the #CoralSeaFrontiers workshop. 🤩😎 We're looking forward to an exciting couple of months with CSIRO and our expert scientists, who'll be looking at specimens and identifying new species from recent expeditions to the Australian Coral Sea.
Been identifying my FAV groups! LOTS of spines going on! Calliaster on the left with big pointed ones and Perissogonaster on the right with small sharp, appressed ones! #coralseafrontiers thanks @oceancensus.bsky.social @drtimohara.bsky.social for supporting this visit! #echinoday
January 15, 2026 at 11:53 AM
One of our favourite sea star scientists has arrived at the #CoralSeaFrontiers workshop. 🤩😎 We're looking forward to an exciting couple of months with CSIRO and our expert scientists, who'll be looking at specimens and identifying new species from recent expeditions to the Australian Coral Sea.
Reposted by Ocean Census
NEW SEA PIG (deep-sea sea cucumbers) DISCOVERIES AWAIT! Via #coralseafrontiers- supported work at Museum Victoria by @oceancensus.bsky.social Melanie M. and @drtimohara.bsky.social key words: CRUNCHY SEA PIG??
January 14, 2026 at 9:12 AM
NEW SEA PIG (deep-sea sea cucumbers) DISCOVERIES AWAIT! Via #coralseafrontiers- supported work at Museum Victoria by @oceancensus.bsky.social Melanie M. and @drtimohara.bsky.social key words: CRUNCHY SEA PIG??
Beautiful new footage from our friends and expedition partners @schmidtocean.bsky.social. Check out highlights of the marine life spotted on the #ArgentinianDeepSeeps expedition.
The #ArgentinianDeepSeeps team completed 1st comprehensive study of Argentina’s cold seeps. Their goal: to understand how the animal communities live and interact with localized physical, geological, and chemical conditions as well as with surrounding deep-sea ecosystems.
youtu.be/KvJewhMvrIQ?...
youtu.be/KvJewhMvrIQ?...
Life in Extremes — Cold Seeps of Argentina | 4K ROV Highlights
YouTube video by Schmidt Ocean
youtu.be
January 14, 2026 at 10:11 AM
Beautiful new footage from our friends and expedition partners @schmidtocean.bsky.social. Check out highlights of the marine life spotted on the #ArgentinianDeepSeeps expedition.
Reposted by Ocean Census
Sea squirts & squid!
ROV pilots filmed these salps and spectacular squid during the #SouthSandwichIslands expedition with @oceancensus.bsky.social in early 2025. Salps, also known as sea squirts, are ubiquitous throughout the Ocean, and abundant in the Southern Ocean.
ROV pilots filmed these salps and spectacular squid during the #SouthSandwichIslands expedition with @oceancensus.bsky.social in early 2025. Salps, also known as sea squirts, are ubiquitous throughout the Ocean, and abundant in the Southern Ocean.
January 7, 2026 at 11:38 PM
Sea squirts & squid!
ROV pilots filmed these salps and spectacular squid during the #SouthSandwichIslands expedition with @oceancensus.bsky.social in early 2025. Salps, also known as sea squirts, are ubiquitous throughout the Ocean, and abundant in the Southern Ocean.
ROV pilots filmed these salps and spectacular squid during the #SouthSandwichIslands expedition with @oceancensus.bsky.social in early 2025. Salps, also known as sea squirts, are ubiquitous throughout the Ocean, and abundant in the Southern Ocean.
Reposted by Ocean Census
Don't forget to nominate your favourites for the WoRMS Top Ten Marine Species of 2025!
Deadline = January 25th 2026
Info: marinespecies.org/news.php?p=s...
Nomination form: form.vliz.be/en/form/worm...
@oceancensus.bsky.social @unoceandecade.bsky.social @vliz.be @lifewatcheric.bsky.social
Deadline = January 25th 2026
Info: marinespecies.org/news.php?p=s...
Nomination form: form.vliz.be/en/form/worm...
@oceancensus.bsky.social @unoceandecade.bsky.social @vliz.be @lifewatcheric.bsky.social
January 12, 2026 at 8:23 AM
Don't forget to nominate your favourites for the WoRMS Top Ten Marine Species of 2025!
Deadline = January 25th 2026
Info: marinespecies.org/news.php?p=s...
Nomination form: form.vliz.be/en/form/worm...
@oceancensus.bsky.social @unoceandecade.bsky.social @vliz.be @lifewatcheric.bsky.social
Deadline = January 25th 2026
Info: marinespecies.org/news.php?p=s...
Nomination form: form.vliz.be/en/form/worm...
@oceancensus.bsky.social @unoceandecade.bsky.social @vliz.be @lifewatcheric.bsky.social
The next species discovery workshop is underway!
In Melbourne, Australia as part of an @oceancensus.bsky.social project to Id deep-sea sea stars from the Coral Sea! Hosted by @drtimohara.bsky.social ! Tomorrow the fun begins!
January 14, 2026 at 10:06 AM
The next species discovery workshop is underway!
Reposted by Ocean Census
A long-armed deep-sea sea star called Nymphaster with only 4 arms-appearing very much like a thowing star or a cylon base ship! A specimen from the #CoralSeaFrontiers expedition via work in Australia supported by
@oceancensus.bsky.social
@drtimohara.bsky.social !!
@oceancensus.bsky.social
@drtimohara.bsky.social !!
January 14, 2026 at 9:06 AM
A long-armed deep-sea sea star called Nymphaster with only 4 arms-appearing very much like a thowing star or a cylon base ship! A specimen from the #CoralSeaFrontiers expedition via work in Australia supported by
@oceancensus.bsky.social
@drtimohara.bsky.social !!
@oceancensus.bsky.social
@drtimohara.bsky.social !!
A reminder ⏰ Nominations are currently open for the @marinespecies.bsky.social Top Ten Species of 2025. If you described a new species in 2025, nominate your species via the link below. You can also see the previous years' winners.
➡️ oceancensus.org/nominations-...
➡️ oceancensus.org/nominations-...
Nominations are open for the WoRMS Top Ten Marine Species of 2025 - Ocean Census
WoRMS Top Ten Marine Species of 2025 is now open for nominations - it's time to submit your favourite species.
oceancensus.org
January 7, 2026 at 12:18 PM
A reminder ⏰ Nominations are currently open for the @marinespecies.bsky.social Top Ten Species of 2025. If you described a new species in 2025, nominate your species via the link below. You can also see the previous years' winners.
➡️ oceancensus.org/nominations-...
➡️ oceancensus.org/nominations-...
Big news from our #ArcticDeep expedition with @UiTNorgesarktis and @rev_ocean. Deepest gas hydrate cold seep ever discovered in the Arctic 👇
Read more: uit.no/nyheter/arti...
Read more: uit.no/nyheter/arti...
Deepest gas hydrate cold seep ever discovered in the Arctic | UiT
A multinational scientific team led by UiT has uncovered the deepest known gas hydrate cold seep on the planet. The discovery was made during the Ocean Census Arctic Deep – EXTREME24 expedition and re...
uit.no
December 24, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Big news from our #ArcticDeep expedition with @UiTNorgesarktis and @rev_ocean. Deepest gas hydrate cold seep ever discovered in the Arctic 👇
Read more: uit.no/nyheter/arti...
Read more: uit.no/nyheter/arti...
Cause for a shell-ebration! These beautiful shells represent some of the 67 new species of auger snails, discovered by Belgian scientist Yves Terryn with support from the Ocean Census Species Discovery Awards.
More here: oceancensus.org/67-new-auger...
@naturalsciences-be.bsky.social
More here: oceancensus.org/67-new-auger...
@naturalsciences-be.bsky.social
67 new auger snail species discovered by Belgian conchologist, Yves Terryn: A milestone in Terebridae taxonomy
Celebrating the extraordinary achievement of Belgian conchologist Yves Terryn, who has discovered 67 new species of auger snails.
oceancensus.org
December 17, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Cause for a shell-ebration! These beautiful shells represent some of the 67 new species of auger snails, discovered by Belgian scientist Yves Terryn with support from the Ocean Census Species Discovery Awards.
More here: oceancensus.org/67-new-auger...
@naturalsciences-be.bsky.social
More here: oceancensus.org/67-new-auger...
@naturalsciences-be.bsky.social
The Ocean Census Species Discovery Awards provide financial support to help scientists work through specimen collections. Meet 8 scientists accelerating the discovery of marine life 🐙🔍
➡️ Find out more: oceancensus.org/the-ocean-ce...
➡️ Find out more: oceancensus.org/the-ocean-ce...
December 16, 2025 at 10:25 AM
The Ocean Census Species Discovery Awards provide financial support to help scientists work through specimen collections. Meet 8 scientists accelerating the discovery of marine life 🐙🔍
➡️ Find out more: oceancensus.org/the-ocean-ce...
➡️ Find out more: oceancensus.org/the-ocean-ce...
What do these species have in common? 🐙
They’re past winners of the @marinespecies.bsky.social Top Ten Marine Species list, celebrating new species and the taxonomists who discovered them.
🚨 2025 nominations are OPEN! Nominate your species here 👉 oceancensus.org/nominations-...
They’re past winners of the @marinespecies.bsky.social Top Ten Marine Species list, celebrating new species and the taxonomists who discovered them.
🚨 2025 nominations are OPEN! Nominate your species here 👉 oceancensus.org/nominations-...
December 15, 2025 at 9:55 AM
What do these species have in common? 🐙
They’re past winners of the @marinespecies.bsky.social Top Ten Marine Species list, celebrating new species and the taxonomists who discovered them.
🚨 2025 nominations are OPEN! Nominate your species here 👉 oceancensus.org/nominations-...
They’re past winners of the @marinespecies.bsky.social Top Ten Marine Species list, celebrating new species and the taxonomists who discovered them.
🚨 2025 nominations are OPEN! Nominate your species here 👉 oceancensus.org/nominations-...
Have you discovered a new species this year? Submit it for the World Register of Marine Species TOP 10 of 2025. Details below👇
We are calling for your nominations for the WoRMS Top Ten Marine Species of 2025!
Details: marinespecies.org/news.php?p=s...
Nomination form: form.vliz.be/en/form/worm...
Deadline: Sunday January 25th 2026
@oceancensus.bsky.social @unoceandecade.bsky.social @vliz.be @lifewatcheric.bsky.social
Details: marinespecies.org/news.php?p=s...
Nomination form: form.vliz.be/en/form/worm...
Deadline: Sunday January 25th 2026
@oceancensus.bsky.social @unoceandecade.bsky.social @vliz.be @lifewatcheric.bsky.social
December 11, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Have you discovered a new species this year? Submit it for the World Register of Marine Species TOP 10 of 2025. Details below👇
Science Manager Verity Nye is currently representing the Ocean Census at the 19th International Meiofauna Conference @19imco.bsky.social in Kolkata. If you're here, do speak to Verity about opportunities in the Ocean Census Science Network.
Science Network 👉 oceancensus.org/science-netw...
Science Network 👉 oceancensus.org/science-netw...
December 10, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Science Manager Verity Nye is currently representing the Ocean Census at the 19th International Meiofauna Conference @19imco.bsky.social in Kolkata. If you're here, do speak to Verity about opportunities in the Ocean Census Science Network.
Science Network 👉 oceancensus.org/science-netw...
Science Network 👉 oceancensus.org/science-netw...
Meet Amathillopsis spinigera! 🦐 Samples from the Ocean Census #ArcticDeep workshop and a 2024 Polarstern expedition revealed this species turning up far beyond its known depths. It’s now recorded from 11–3182 m thanks to 46 new findings.
Read the paper: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Read the paper: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
December 9, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Meet Amathillopsis spinigera! 🦐 Samples from the Ocean Census #ArcticDeep workshop and a 2024 Polarstern expedition revealed this species turning up far beyond its known depths. It’s now recorded from 11–3182 m thanks to 46 new findings.
Read the paper: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Read the paper: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Happy ‘Species’ Wrapped 🎁 Thank you for following along with expeditions, discoveries and Science Network news this year. Plenty more to come!
A reminder, you can check out new species discoveries via our Discoveries page here lnkd.in/ecx4nHXV
A reminder, you can check out new species discoveries via our Discoveries page here lnkd.in/ecx4nHXV
December 4, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Happy ‘Species’ Wrapped 🎁 Thank you for following along with expeditions, discoveries and Science Network news this year. Plenty more to come!
A reminder, you can check out new species discoveries via our Discoveries page here lnkd.in/ecx4nHXV
A reminder, you can check out new species discoveries via our Discoveries page here lnkd.in/ecx4nHXV
Reposted by Ocean Census
New paper!
Our study in Ecosphere, led by Chong Chen on our @oceancensus.bsky.social cruise, maps biodiversity in methane seeps. My role was minor, but everyone was a blast to work with. We have more exciting stuff from this cruise coming!
esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Our study in Ecosphere, led by Chong Chen on our @oceancensus.bsky.social cruise, maps biodiversity in methane seeps. My role was minor, but everyone was a blast to work with. We have more exciting stuff from this cruise coming!
esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Biological surveys reveal unexpectedly high faunal diversity at Nankai Trough methane seeps
Cold seeps are chemosynthesis-based ecosystems powered by microbial primary production that support diverse and specialized faunal assemblages in the deep sea. Despite Nankai Trough in Japan being a ....
esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:29 AM
New paper!
Our study in Ecosphere, led by Chong Chen on our @oceancensus.bsky.social cruise, maps biodiversity in methane seeps. My role was minor, but everyone was a blast to work with. We have more exciting stuff from this cruise coming!
esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Our study in Ecosphere, led by Chong Chen on our @oceancensus.bsky.social cruise, maps biodiversity in methane seeps. My role was minor, but everyone was a blast to work with. We have more exciting stuff from this cruise coming!
esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Reposted by Ocean Census
[New Paper] Reveals an unexpectedly high animal diversity at Nankai Trough cold seeps: 80 species incl. >10 new discoveries!
OPEN ACCESS in @esajournals.bsky.social Ecosphere:
doi.org/10.1002/ecs2...
This is the 1st paper from the June 2025 JAMSTEC x @oceancensus.bsky.social "SHINKAI" cruise.
OPEN ACCESS in @esajournals.bsky.social Ecosphere:
doi.org/10.1002/ecs2...
This is the 1st paper from the June 2025 JAMSTEC x @oceancensus.bsky.social "SHINKAI" cruise.
November 19, 2025 at 1:57 PM
[New Paper] Reveals an unexpectedly high animal diversity at Nankai Trough cold seeps: 80 species incl. >10 new discoveries!
OPEN ACCESS in @esajournals.bsky.social Ecosphere:
doi.org/10.1002/ecs2...
This is the 1st paper from the June 2025 JAMSTEC x @oceancensus.bsky.social "SHINKAI" cruise.
OPEN ACCESS in @esajournals.bsky.social Ecosphere:
doi.org/10.1002/ecs2...
This is the 1st paper from the June 2025 JAMSTEC x @oceancensus.bsky.social "SHINKAI" cruise.
Our community of taxonomists and marine scientists has grown so much since the start of the Ocean Census. Thank you so much to all who contribute.
Opportunities in the Science Network: oceancensus.org/science-netw...
Opportunities in the Science Network: oceancensus.org/science-netw...
October 31, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Our community of taxonomists and marine scientists has grown so much since the start of the Ocean Census. Thank you so much to all who contribute.
Opportunities in the Science Network: oceancensus.org/science-netw...
Opportunities in the Science Network: oceancensus.org/science-netw...