Marine specialists and experts have discovered a previously unknown species of animal near the shores of Antarctica. Dubbed the “Antarctic Strawberry Feather Star”, this discovery was made during a study conducted from 2008 to 2017. Details of this discovery were recently published in the journal “Invertebrate Systematics”.
The species is closely related to the starfish and sea cucumber, sharing several characteristics with them. However, the Strawberry Feather is distinguished by its size – significantly larger than that of the starfish – and its singular appearance, often referred to as “alien” in the international media.
Renowned researcher Greg Ross, a member of the research team that identified the new species, compared the animal’s appearance to that of a strawberry. Equipped with 20 delicate arms, this animal can measure up to 20 cm in length.
In addition, the researchers found eight distinct species. These creatures swim uniquely, different from other known marine species. Their habitat lies at a depth of around 20 meters below the sea surface, and their colouration ranges from beige to dark red. The characterization of these species has been made possible by recent technological advances and DNA analysis.
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