Meet Loki: Bizarre Sea Cucumber Among 57 New Deep-Sea Species

Published 33 minutes agoon October 1, 2026

Photo: Loki the Sea Cucumber” (Peniagone sp.) IMAGE: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute

A strange, translucent sea cucumber nicknamed “Loki” is among 57 new marine species identified from the depths of Argentina’s Mar del Plata Submarine Canyon.

The unusual deep-sea creature, a Peniagone sea cucumber, earned its nickname from its prominent horn-like appendages, which researchers thought resembled the headgear worn by Loki, the Norse god. It was recorded at a depth of 2,577 metres and is one of up to ten new sea cucumber species uncovered during the research.

The discoveries came from specimens collected during the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s Underwater Oases of the Mar del Plata Canyon expedition in 2025. Scientists aboard the research vessel Falkor (too) used the remotely operated vehicle SuBastian to explore a submarine canyon reaching more than 3,500 metres deep.

Twenty taxonomists and early-career researchers later came together for an intensive two-week Species Discovery Workshop in Buenos Aires. In that short period, they identified 57 species new to science, including 20 copepods, 22 echinoderms, 14 cnidarians and a scaphopod mollusc, as well as five potential new genera.

The expedition itself became an unexpected online hit, with more than four million people watching live footage from the deep sea. One of its stars was a bright orange sea star that viewers compared to SpongeBob SquarePants character Patrick Star — although scientists don’t believe that particular animal represents a new species.

Researchers say the discoveries demonstrate just how much remains unknown about life in the deep ocean, with another expedition to an Argentine submarine canyon already planned for early 2027.

Source: Schmidt Ocean Institute

Jane Morgan

Jane’s lifelong love for the ocean began in childhood and has shaped the course of her life and career. After learning to dive in 1991, she spent much of the '90s teaching scuba and working on marine conservation projects in the Philippines and Borneo. A chance encounter with a film camera on a dive trip to Egypt in 2001 ignited a passion for underwater photography, inspiring her to leave the corporate world and pursue a full-time career in dive travel and photojournalism. Since then, her work has been published in a wide range of national and international magazines, books, and newspapers. She has filmed underwater for the BBC, judged major photography competitions, and received numerous accolades—including the prestigious Plongeur d'Or at the Festival Mondial de l'Image Sous-Marine. In 2009, Jane became a freelance photojournalist, and in 2011 completed a BA (Hons) in Marine and Natural History Photography at Falmouth University, where she now works as a Dive Safety Officer. Based in Cornwall, Jane dives locally year-round and is passionate about showcasing the rich marine life found in UK waters. As a proud ambassador for Dynamic Nord and Fathoms Free, she actively supports marine conservation initiatives and advocates for ocean protection through her storytelling. In her newest role with Scubaverse, Jane combines her love of travel, diving, and storytelling—sharing experiences from around the world to inspire others to explore, protect, and connect with the underwater world.

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