This first large
systematic collection of large seabed invertebrates from Australia's
deep western continental margin (~100 to 1,100 m depth between North
West Cape and Albany), revealed an undiscovered high species richness
and novelty in several taxa.
Within the total collection,
1,979 species make up the major taxa that have comprehensive and consistent
species-level discrimination across all samples: Demospongiae, corals
(Octocorallia and Antipatharia), Mollusca, Echinodermata, Decapoda, Pycnogonida
and Acscidiacea. Richness of other taxa has not yet been determined.
59% of the major taxa
were estimated to be new or un-named species. Even amongst the decapods,
which are relatively well known, 33% of the 524 species collected are
believed to be new to science.
Shown on this page: less than 10% of species from the
collection of major taxa (see list above).
Contact: Ms Meg Rive (BSc (Hons I)
LLB)
Communication Manager
Wealth from Oceans Flagship
Phone: 61 3 9239 4433
Alt Phone: 61 4 3800 7301
Fax: 61 3 9239 4444
Email: Meg.Rive@csiro.au