Dulcibella camanchaca

16.12.2024

Dulcibella camanchaca

Why in the news?                        

Researchers from the University of Concepción in Chile and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in the US have discovered Dulcibella camanchaca in the Atacama Trench.

About Dulcibella camanchaca:

• It is a new predatory amphipod species.
• It was found at a depth of 7,902 meters in the Atacama Trench.
• It has been classified within the Eusiridae family and represents a newly identified genus, marking a significant addition to the catalogue of deep-sea biodiversity.

Features of the Dulcibella camanchaca:

• It measures just under 4 centimetres and is larger than its closest relatives and exhibits unique features, such as raptorial appendages called gnathopods, used for hunting smaller organisms.
• Unlike scavenging amphipods commonly found in trenches, this species actively prey on other amphipods, playing a crucial role in the deep-sea food web.
• It is a fast-swimming predator that we named after 'darkness' in the languages of the peoples from the Andes region.
• It has pale colouring, a common trait in deep-sea species, that enhances its ability to thrive in its pitch-black environment.

Key points about the Atacama Trench

• The Atacama Trench stretches along the eastern South Pacific Ocean, plunging to depths exceeding 8,000 m off the coast of northern Chile.
• It is part of the hadal zone, a region characterised by intense pressure, near-freezing temperatures, and complete darkness.
• It is one of the most geographically isolated hadal features and is situated below eutrophic surface waters and characterized by high sediment loads.

                                                                 Source: The Economic times

Dulcibella camanchaca’, recently seen in the news, is a species of:

A.Gecko

B.Fish

C.Butterfly

D.Amphipod

Answer D