"Underwater mountains reveal 'sea flowers' with nearly thirty tentacles for the first time (photo)."

The ocean covers a significant portion of the Earth's surface and is home to an astonishing variety of life. Ocean biodiversity is so vast that scientists continually discover new species, many of which continue to astonish researchers, according to IFLScience.

In a recent study in the depths of the northwestern Pacific Ocean, scientists uncovered a tiny yet captivating new marine species. It has been named in accordance with its appearance — "little flower" (Vitrumanthus flosculus).

Researchers reported that the new species was found on underwater ridges known as seamounts, located south of the coast of Japan. During the study, scientists utilized a remotely operated vehicle (KM-ROV) to collect samples of Parazoanthidae — the coral family to which the new species belongs — at a depth of about 400 meters.

"Little flowers" are remarkable not only for their miniature size, measuring just 1.5-2.5 millimeters in height and 1-2.5 millimeters in diameter, but also for their close relationships with glass sponges, which serve as their hosts.

Like other members of the family, the new species exists in a symbiotic relationship with glass sponges, where they live as polyps on the sponge surfaces. It is known that this new species feeds on nutrients carried by water currents. However, what is most noteworthy is that their tiny bodies are covered with 22 to 26 slender tentacles, a feature that distinguishes them from other close relatives.

Researchers note that the species was identified and described based on morphological and molecular analyses. During the study, scientists sequenced the entire mitochondrial genome as well as the genome of a related species. As a result, they were able to confirm the evolutionary placement of these species within the Parazoanthidae family and discovered that much of the diversity within this family has evolved relatively recently.

The authors of the study emphasize that their discovery highlights the importance of marine research and the need for conservation efforts, particularly concerning biodiversity hotspots, including seamounts. Nevertheless, scientists point out that the ocean remains the least explored place on Earth, indicating that we still have many discoveries ahead of us.