International Waters
Marine fish known only from International Waters include a scorpionfish Scorpaenodes immaculatus (BHL) and a snapper Paracaesio waltervadi (BHL) and a moray eel Gymnothorax parini (BHL) and Manocherian's Catshark Apristurus manocheriani (ResearchGate) from Walters Shoals, the Meteor Dragonet Protogrammus sousai (ResearchGate) and Melanostigma meteori (ResearchGate) (Facebook) and Bathylutichthys balushkini (ResearchGate) from the Great Meteor seamount, a grouper Epinephelus suborbitalis (FishBase) from the Minami-Koti seamount, Anthias helenensis from the Central Atlantic (FishBase), and a hagfish Eptatretus strickrotti (Univ. Chicago) from a hydrothermal vent on the East Pacific Rise.
Marine fish recorded only from the Saya de Malha Bank include the
Swallowtail Tuskfish Choerodon
cypselurus
(BHL), the Saya Lionfish Ebosia saya (ResearchGate), the Blacktips Swallowtail Odontanthias dorsomaculatus (fig. 1 at J-STAGE pdf), and a spikefish Triacanthodes indicus (GBIF). Marine fish known only from the Nazca Ridge include a grenadier Coelorinchus nazcaensis (BHL), a rover Plagiogeneion geminatum
(BHL), and a lefteye flounder Parabothus amaokai (ResearchGate). Deep sea fish remain poorly
collected and are often known from only a single specimen such as the
fathead sculpin Cottunculus
tubulosus (ResearchGate)
from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Endemic fish genera include the East Pacific Ventbrotula (GBIF) and an anthias Anatolanthias (BHL).
A
spiny
lobster Palinurus
barbarae (Census
of Marine Life WM), a shrimp Alpheus waltervadi (GBIF),
a crab Chaceon collettei
(GBIF),
a starfish Iphiaster
noemieae (GBIF), the gastropods Trivellona
inopinata (ResearchGate) and Pterodacna boucheti (PLAZI),
an isopod crustacean Joeropsis
waltervadi (GBIF),
and a sponge Biverticillus
tenuissimus (GBIF)
are known solely from the Walters
Shoals.
Other marine invertebrates collected only in International Waters include a copepod crustacean Stygiopontius lomonosovi (ResearchGate) from the Logachev Hydrothermal Vent of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the copepods Romete bulbiseta (G.L. Pesce WM pdf) and Meteorina magnifica (p. 2 of TOS pdf) and a black coral Leiopathes montana (ResearchGate) from the Great Meteor Seamount, a squat lobster Munidopsis mandelai (ResearchGate) and a bryozoan Atlantisina atlantis (Sciency Thoughts) from the Atlantis Seamount, a sponge Tedania rappi (Species New to Science) from the Orphan Seamount, a shrimp Leontocaris smarensis (p. 2 of TOS pdf) from the Romanche Fracture Zone, a shrimp Paralebbeus mollis (GBIF) and a sea cucumber Pannychia taylorae (ResearchGate) from the Coral Seamount, the gastropods Lirapex felix (ResearchGate) and Gigantopelta aegis (Wikipedia) and a polychaete Ophryotrocha jiaolongi (ZooKeys) from the Longqi vent field of the Southwest Indian Ridge, the gastropods Comitas powelli (GBIF) and Pleurotomella allisoni (GBIF) from the Agassiz Guyot, and a new species of red peniagone sea cucumber (p. 10 of Census of Marine Life pdf) from the Charlie-Gibbs Fracture Zone of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
Families
known solely from specimens collected in International Waters include a
copepod Parkiidae
(BHL),
an amphipod Microscinidae (GBIF) (PLAZI),
and the bryozoans Anyutidae (GBIF)
and Alyonushkidae (GBIF). Mollusc
families known only
from International Waters include the parasitic Galatheavalvidae
(p.
139 of Kobnhavens
Univ.
pdf)
collected east of Kenya on sea cucumbers and the Laginiopsidae (Marine
Species WM) from a single specimen collected east of the Azores.
Areas in international waters likely to be important for endemic
species include seamounts (TOS
pdf), hadal trenches (ResearchGate),
hydrothermal vents (TOS
pdf),
and cold seeps (TOS
pdf). Some of the key areas are described at (Pew
pdf) and (IUCN
pdf). For a list of species endemic to the Meteors Seamount see
(Table 5 at ResearchGate).