Scientists from Newcastle University have discovered a new species of amphipod that lives deep in the Ocean. This discovery was made in a study carried out in the Marianas Trench (about 7.000 meters deep), one of the most remote areas of Pacific Ocean between Japan and The Philippines. This research has had great significance, not only because of the fact of discovering a new species but the name with which it has been cataloged: Eurythenes plasticus.

Eurythenes plasticus, a way to warn about the impact of plastic pollution

The name is due to the discovery of plastic fibers inside its organism, a shocking fact considering it has been found in one of the most remote and unexplored areas of the planet. This news is another example of the magnitude of the problem of plastic pollution in the Ocean, proving its resistance to degradation and the great dispersal capacity that plastics have once they enter the marine environment. The research has been published a few days ago in the scientific magazine Zootaxa.

At least, it should make us think about the fact that plastics appear inside unknown organisms that live more than 7.000 meters deep… isn’t it?

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