Sunday 29 December 2013

Deep sea creatures found off Rockall 'new to science'

Four animals previously unknown to science have been discovered in deep water off Scotland, the Scottish government has said.

New species of large sea snail, clam and marine worm were found during surveys by Marine Scotland.

The clams and worm were at a suspected cold seep, an area where hydrocarbons are released from the seabed.

All were discovered around Rockall, the remains of a volcano 260 miles (418km) west of the Western Isles.

If confirmed, the cold seep would be the first to be discovered near Rockall. Some types of commercial fishing could be banned in the area to protect the habitat.

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