“Scientists have discovered nine new deep-sea sponge species off Alaska, offering new insights into the region’s largely unexplored marine biodiversity.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) announced the discovery on Thursday, saying the species were found in the Gulf of Alaska and the Aleutian Islands. The findings bring the total number of known sponge species in Alaska to 232.

The specimens were collected during Noaa Fisheries’ annual bottom-trawl surveys, which monitor groundfish and shellfish stocks. Researchers analyzed samples collected as far back as 2012, describing the new species in two recent scientific papers.”

From The Guardian.