Scientists Identify 14 New Species Of Prawn, Lobster Larvae That Look Like 'Aliens' In Gulf Of Mexico

The depths of our seas are laden with a multitude of secrets. But as rapid technological advancements make it possible to reach the depths of the oceans, the results are surprising discoveries.

One of the recent ones is related to what sits deep in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Scientists have identified 14 different species of larvae that were once believed to be different species that live in the deepest parts of the Gulf of Mexico.

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The creatures, which bear alien-like looks, are mostly shrimps and lobsters, according to Heather Bracken-Grissom, one of the co-authors of the study.

Bracken-Grissom, an assistant professor at Florida International University, opines that shrimp found in the ocean usually go through multiple larval stages and it's possible that some of the creatures are going through different stages.

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In the study, published in the journal Diversity, researchers wrote that they used DNA barcoding and morphological methods to match the larvae they found to their adult counterparts to identify the larval species.

According to the university's news release, this is not the first time that Bracken-Grissom has given identity to the deep-sea creatures. In 2012, she was able to identify the species known as Cerataspis monstrosa using the same genetic methods to reveal the miniature-sized creatures they found recently.

Many of the creatures, as per Bracken-Grissom, live in the mesopelagic zone of the ocean, an area between 650 and 3,200 feet (200 to 1,000 meters). She added that upon attaining adulthood, these creatures settle even further down the depths of the ocean.

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¡°Most are prey items for fish, deep-diving marine mammals and cephalopods, which means they are important to the food chain,¡± said Bracken-Grissom.

The scientists and researchers will continue their studies on the 14 creatures to learn more about their parents, their life cycles and the ecological set-ups which help them to thrive and grow, Daily Mail reported.