Senckenberg Ocean Species Alliance (SOSA)
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Senckenberg Ocean Species Alliance (SOSA)
@oceanspecies.bsky.social
540 followers 26 following 54 posts
The Senckenberg Ocean Species Alliance (SOSA) is a project of Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung that aims to accelerate invertebrate species description and drive global conservation efforts.

https://linktr.ee/oceanspecies
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oceanspecies.bsky.social
𝗖𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁: From species discovery to deep-sea mysteries, @sgn.one researchers created connections and shared their exciting work at the 𝗖𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱, check out their contributions here: www.linkedin.com/pulse/deep-d...
Deep Dives into Crustacean Research: Senckenberg at The Crustacean Society Summer Meeting
From July 6–10, Senckenberg researchers joined crustacean experts from around the globe at one of the field’s most important gatherings: The Crustacean Society (TCS) Summer Meeting 2025, organized by ...
www.linkedin.com
August 13, 2025 at 12:56 PM
oceanspecies.bsky.social
What scientists thought was one deep-sea isopod species turned out to be six—five of them brand new to science!

Explore this cryptic group's discovery story and meet the whole isopod crew in the article below:
www.linkedin.com/pulse/from-c...
@sgn.one
From Cryptic to God Complex: Discovery of 5 New Isopods!
Senckenberg Nature Research scientists explored one of the deepest and least-known parts of the ocean, the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench and nearby regions in the Northwest Pacific. In doing so, they uncover...
www.linkedin.com
July 3, 2025 at 1:42 PM
oceanspecies.bsky.social
Paddles for legs?? Check out this newly described and super rare giant swimming isopod!

Explore the story of how it was discovered on the @sgn.one Senckenberg 2022 AleutBio expedition: www.linkedin.com/pulse/new-sp...
New Species Alert: Bathyopsurus sonnei
Senckenberg Nature Research scientists discovered a brand-new species of a deep-sea swimming isopod in the Aleutian Trench, in the Pacific Ocean. This new species – at 65 millimeters long – is the lar...
www.linkedin.com
June 30, 2025 at 1:37 PM
oceanspecies.bsky.social
SOSA and @sgn.one were at the UN Ocean Conference 2025!

Check out Dr. Alica Torkov's insights from the event and how they will shape our efforts to safeguard ocean biodiversity: www.linkedin.com/pulse/reflec...
Reflections from the 2025 UN Ocean Conference
Last week, Senckenberg Nature Research’s Prof. Dr.
www.linkedin.com
June 26, 2025 at 9:56 AM
oceanspecies.bsky.social
𝗪𝗲'𝗿𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴!
Are you passionate about science, marine biology, and safeguarding ocean biodiversity? We have 𝟯 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 open at @sgn.one!

Check out the link below to see if one of these could be your next dream job!
sosa.senckenberg.de/en/about/car...
Career | SOSA Project
sosa.senckenberg.de
June 3, 2025 at 2:10 PM
oceanspecies.bsky.social
🐌 Happy #SnailDay! Meet 𝘑𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘴 — a 1.5 mm snail found in the Mediterranean… but isn’t a native! This sneaky snail is likely an Indo-Pacific species that was only discovered in its new habitat! Learn more: tinyurl.com/problematicus

bsky.app/profile/pgal...
May 29, 2025 at 12:10 PM
oceanspecies.bsky.social
🥁Drumroll, please! The 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗠𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗰 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 is… 𝘔𝘶𝘶𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘶𝘴, the 𝗗𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗼 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗽𝘂𝘀! 🐙

Over 4,000 fans voted and though all the creature candidates were impressive, 𝘔𝘶𝘶𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘶𝘴 stole the show and our hearts! The prize: complete genome sequencing.
@sgn.one @sigwartae.bsky.social

🎥:@schmidtocean
April 4, 2025 at 8:16 AM
oceanspecies.bsky.social
Naming a species isn’t just a label—it’s a lifeline for conservation. But what happens when an animal loses its name?

That’s the story of 𝘗𝘴𝘺𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘢. Dive into how researchers at @noc.ac.uk got this purple long-tailed sea cucumber its name back: tinyurl.com/Pbuglossa
March 6, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Reposted by Senckenberg Ocean Species Alliance (SOSA)
sigwartae.bsky.social
VOTE NOW! Mollusc of the Year 2025

Arctica islandica - world’s oldest mollusc
Cellana exarata - Hawaiian limpet
Glaucus atlanticus - blue dragon
Muusoctopus sp. - Dorado Octopus
Xenophora conchyliophora - shell / collector

YOU decide - we do its genome
moty.senckenberg.science
@cgreve.bsky.social
March 3, 2025 at 12:54 PM
oceanspecies.bsky.social
𝗖𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗰 𝗖𝗼𝗱𝗲: A ground-breaking study in @science.org unravels the evolutionary history of molluscs: tinyurl.com/MolluscTree

@sgn.one @sigwartae.bsky.social @kmkocot.bsky.social @squamiferum.bsky.social @vans-gonzalez.bsky.social @cgreve.bsky.social @mkyapchiongco.bsky.social
A genome-based phylogeny for Mollusca is concordant with fossils and morphology
Extreme morphological disparity within Mollusca has long confounded efforts to reconstruct a stable backbone phylogeny for the phylum. Familiar molluscan groups—gastropods, bivalves, and cephalopods—e...
tinyurl.com
February 28, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Reposted by Senckenberg Ocean Species Alliance (SOSA)
sigwartae.bsky.social
Here is the mollusc tree. (We fixed it, you're welcome.) 😇 @sgn.one @oceanspecies.bsky.social @kmkocot.bsky.social
@squamiferum.bsky.social www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
February 27, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Reposted by Senckenberg Ocean Species Alliance (SOSA)
squamiferum.bsky.social
Evolutionary history of molluscs was contentious for decades due to conflicting genetic data vs morphology and fossils. Our tree resolves previous controversies; also provide key insights on what the ancestral mollusc looked like!

@oceanspecies.bsky.social @sgn.one @sigwartae.bsky.social
February 27, 2025 at 11:32 PM
oceanspecies.bsky.social
Earlier this week, a team from @trafficintl.bsky.social visited SOSA’s Red List team – discussing opportunities to collaborate on protecting marine species!

@sgn.one
February 19, 2025 at 9:01 AM
oceanspecies.bsky.social
💙 Love is in the water! 💙
We’re sharing #OceanLove stories on our Instagram (@OceanSpecies) all month!

Want your own set of exclusive, 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗰𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀? Join the Alliance by signing up for our Newsletter by 𝗙𝗲𝗯 𝟭𝟭𝘁𝗵 👉 eepurl.com/ivU9RY
February 5, 2025 at 9:44 AM
oceanspecies.bsky.social
This snail’s shell is hiding secrets to its evolution!

Explore what abalone shell shapes are revealing to @sgn.one Global fellow and Universiti Putra Malaysia PhD Student, Nur Syahirah Mamat: tinyurl.com/Abaloneshape
Abalone shells hold secrets to their evolution
Shells of abalone snails have long been admired for their beautiful iridescent mother-of-pearl lining. But researcher, Nur Syahirah Mamat, is fascinated by their shells for a completely different reas...
tinyurl.com
January 31, 2025 at 3:18 PM
oceanspecies.bsky.social
1 DAY LEFT to nominate your favorite mollusc for the 2025 International Mollusc of the Year! Winner gets FREE genome sequencing!

More info & Nominate here: tinyurl.com/2025MOTY

@sgn.one @sigwartae.bsky.social
Nominate the International Mollusc of the Year! ~ 2025 ~
tinyurl.com
January 21, 2025 at 1:30 PM
oceanspecies.bsky.social
Protecting deep-sea biodiversity takes global effort! At the #17DSBS Deep-Sea Biology Symposium, experts came together from around the world to discuss the future of our deep ocean: sosa.senckenberg.de/en/press/dee...
January 17, 2025 at 4:33 PM
oceanspecies.bsky.social
Recently unearthed fossils, Punk and Emo, are shaking up our understanding of ancient molluscs!

Check out the article, co-authored by @sigwartae.bsky.social : www.nature.com/articles/s41...
New Silurian aculiferan fossils reveal complex early history of Mollusca - Nature
Fossils of two new worm-like aculiferan species add to the diversity of this group, showing that evolution in early aculiferans generated unusual forms comparable to other crown-group molluscs.
www.nature.com
January 8, 2025 at 5:01 PM
oceanspecies.bsky.social
@sgn.one PhD student, Kasia Vončina's research recently took her to Australia on the hunt for chitons to unlock molecular mysteries this unique marine mollusc holds!

Learn more: sosa.senckenberg.de/en/press/chi...
Chiton Research | SOSA Project
Senckenberg PhD student Kasia Vončina recently journeyed to Australia to explore chiton collections and collect specimens for her fascinating research on these unique marine molluscs.
sosa.senckenberg.de
December 19, 2024 at 1:33 PM
oceanspecies.bsky.social
Our work can be complex, but Ze Frank has also found a way to make it really funny! Check out this hilarious video about what it is we do here at the Senckenberg Ocean Species Alliance: www.youtube.com/watch?v=yn7k...

Many thanks to Ze Frank, we truly are 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥 by your work and ongoing support!
True Facts: How A Species Gets A Name!
YouTube video by Ze Frank
www.youtube.com
December 5, 2024 at 8:21 AM
oceanspecies.bsky.social
Over HALF of all giant clam species are at risk of global extinction. Learn more about some of these marine giants in this @thestraitstimes.bsky.social article: www.straitstimes.com/singapore/on...
One of S’pore’s three remaining giant clam species has not been seen since 2003: NUS scientist
A global review highlighted the urgency of taking action to save these animals from extinction. Read more at straitstimes.com.
www.straitstimes.com
November 26, 2024 at 10:26 AM
Reposted by Senckenberg Ocean Species Alliance (SOSA)
deepseaconserve.bsky.social
📢 We are thrilled to announce the name of the new-to-science deep-sea coral: the Golden Labyrinth (Thouarella aureolabyrinthea)🪸

🏆 Congratulations to the winning submitter, Elizabeth Moore, and many thanks to our judging panel.

@oceanspecies.bsky.social
deep-sea-conservation.org/introducing-...
Introducing a new-to-science deep-sea coral: The Golden Labyrinth coral - DSCC
Blog authored by DSCC Executive Director, Sian Owen On World Ocean Day 2024, we launched an opportunity for our community to help name a new- to-science deep-sea coral. On October 30th, at the 16th Co...
deep-sea-conservation.org
November 7, 2024 at 12:23 PM
oceanspecies.bsky.social
Over 40% of warm-water coral species face extinction.

We recently shared an update on the precarious state of cold-water corals. Yesterday, @IUCN revealed that warm-water coral species are in an even more threatened state.

Learn more: tinyurl.com/WarmWaterCor...
Over 40% of coral species face extinction – IUCN Red List
Baku, Azerbaijan, 13 November 2024 (IUCN) – Forty-four per cent of reef-building coral species globally are at risk of extinction, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ reveals following a global a...
iucn.org
November 14, 2024 at 1:39 PM
oceanspecies.bsky.social
Learn more about some of the cold-water coral species included in the most recent IUCN Red List of Threatened Species update: www.ciimar.up.pt/ciimar-asses...
CIIMAR assesses global conservation status of new species for the IUCN Red List – CIIMAR – Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental ResearchLogo Ciimar CopyXLinkedinFacebookInstagramyoutub...
This is the first time that deep-sea corals have been included globally on the IUCN Red List.
www.ciimar.up.pt
November 12, 2024 at 2:59 PM
oceanspecies.bsky.social
Marine invertebrates represent the greatest biodiversity in our oceans, yet they’re often underrepresented in conservation efforts. But we’re trying to change that! All 12 giant clam species and 22 cold-water corals were added to the IUCN Red List!

Learn more: sosa.senckenberg.de/en/press/cla...
Clams and Corals | SOSA Project
But it’s not all good news. Alarmingly, half of all giant clams are at risk of extinction, largely because of overfishing.
sosa.senckenberg.de
November 12, 2024 at 2:40 PM