Marine scientists emerge from the deep with 10 newly discovered species

Scientists boarded the RRS James Cook to investigate life forms along the mid-Atlantic ridge. This sub-polar front is the point where the warm water of the south meets cold water from the Gulf stream in the north.
Professor Monty Priede from the University of Aberdeen was shocked by the finds: "The terrain looked the same, mirror images of each other, but that is where the similarity ended. We were surprised at how different the animals were on either side of the ridge which is just tens of miles apart. It seemed like we were in a scene from Alice Through the Looking Glass."
This Hydromedusa is one of the potential new species. The latest generation of remote operated vehicles (ROVs) were used to catch it in its habitat 2,500m below sea level.
Photograph: David Shale/University of Aberdeen/PA

Priede and his colleagues set out to find the habitats of previously known species, so the discovery of so many unknown creatures or rare species like this Basket Star was far beyond expectations.
This Basket Star or Gorgon Head Starfish is a rare cousin to the starfish, it feeds on plankton and shrimp and uses its arms to walk.
Photograph: David Shale/University of Aberdeen/PA

Priede said: "We thought we knew this area from previous trawl samples, but the animals we found on this trip are too delicate and would have been destroyed by the trawl nets." This Polynoid Polychaete worm was caught at appoximately 2,500m below sea level
Photograph: David Shale/University of Aberdeen/PA

The latest remote operated vehicles (ROVs) have improved robotic arms and suction devices that allow the scientists to gently suck and grab these delicate creatures - most of the newly discovered creatures are between 5-10cm long - and put them in the 'bioboxes' for transportation to up to sea level. This tiny, delicate, Holothurian was caught at approximately 2,500m below sea level.
Photograph: David Shale/University of Aberdeen/PA

The ROV cab from which the manipulator arms and suction devices are controlled is fitted with an array of high definition tv cameras. These allow the scientists to traverse the rocky seabed, its cliff faces and its flats and hunt for these tiny creatures.
This Enteropneust Hemichordate (acorn worm) from the benthic boundary layer, was found attached to seafloor by adhesive tentacles.
Photograph: David Shale/University of Aberdeen/PA

This Enteropneust (Acorn worm) which was caught at approximately 2,700m below sea level in the Atlantic Ocean.
The haul also includes sea cucumbers with suckers that enable it to climb the rocky, undersea cliff faces, and one creature that could be the missing link between backboned animals and invertebrates.
Photograph: David Shale/University of Aberdeen/PA

A Benthic Holothurian (Peniagone Diaphana) from the mid Atlantic ridge, which was caught swimming above the sea floor.
Photograph: David Shale/University of Aberdeen/PA

An Enteropneust which was caught at approximately 2,500m below sea level in the Atlantic Ocean.
Photograph: David Shale/University of Aberdeen/PA

A Bathypelagic Ctenophore from the benthic boundary layer, which was found attached to seafloor by adhesive tentacles.
Photograph: David Shale/University of Aberdeen/PA

A Benthic Holothurian (Peniagone Porcella) from the mid Atlantic ridge which was caught swimming above the sea floor.
Photograph: David Shale/University of Aberdeen/PA