Discovery of three new deep-sea fish species
Dr. Gerringer’s insight on MBARI publication.
Photo courtesy of Dr. Mackenzie Gerringer
In the fall of 2019, Associate Professor of Biology, Mackenzie Gerringer with a small group of SUNY Geneseo students (now alumni), including “Lydia Fregosi ’21, Emily McMahon ’23, Jessica Palmeri ’21, Samantha Shepard ’23, Sarah Suplicz ’23, and Brett Woodworth ’22,” took on the task of classifying and describing various species of fish, which had peculiar features that did not line up with known samples of other deep sea fish. According to Gerringer, these findings would begin a six-year long informative process of discernment, building a case to prove that these specimens are not known species.
Gerringer and her team were sent samples and underwent the task of digital observation and research of videos taken by the remotely-controlled submersible “Doc Ricketts” at the Montgomery Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI). Though this process would be heavily disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, a multi-year spanning process of information garnering, and an additional year of peer review, on Aug. 27, 2025, the journal of Ichthyology & Herpetology websites published these findings—giving insight and inviting wide-spread curiosity for these peculiar deep sea specimens. In early September, deliberations on the cuteness of one of the three titular discoveries became widespread.
The SUNY Geneseo website describes the extensive research tools Dr. Gerringer and her undergraduate team used, outlining various techniques and practices such as “microscopy, micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) scanning, and careful measurements to collect specific information about their size, shape, and other physical characteristics…” The page goes on to describe how “They also sequenced the DNA of the fish to compare them to other snailfishes and position the new species within an evolutionary context.” This process, though slow, according to Gerringer, was laid out to obtain the “most accurate results” for the researchers.
The three species described and documented in these finds are Paraliparis em, a species of “sleek” snailfish that Gerringer stated is named in honor of the researchers who study the deep ocean at Station M; Careproctus yanceyi, a dark snailfish documented at Station M; and, the widely known Careproctus colliculi, a bumpy snailfish which many recognize for its “cute” attributes. Together, these three species represent the culmination of one of many research possibilities made accessible by Geneseo faculty and represent the potential for more scientific discoveries and endeavors of this caliber in the future.
When discussing her extensive 15-year background in the field, Gerringer said, “I've spent more than 200 days working and living on research vessels…going and exploring these deep sea habitats, collecting samples, and then sometimes it’ll take us several years to process what we collect.” Gerringer also mentioned various research opportunities she has been able to take part in, including those she got to participate in with students of hers, calling it an “exciting” addition to her career.
When on the topic of these explorations, Gerringer shared a little about that which lives below the sea—the Abyssal zone—and its populace. “We're interested in finding out who lives there, how they're adapted to the habitats, and also how humans are impacting those habitats…we often hear about the deep sea as being something otherworldly or alien, but these habitats are very closely connected to the rest of the ocean, and our choices and our activities at the surface matter for what is the largest habitat on our planet. It actually makes up more than 70% of our planet.”
This point was punctuated by Gerringer’s mention of a recovery she made from the deep sea—an intact glass jar found in the bottom of the Puerto Rico trench, showing us that human intersection with these natural environments has unknown and potentially devastating results. This daunting reality was likewise echoed by the findings of one of Gerringer's colleagues—Eurythenes plasticus—an amphipod which is named for its high concentration of plastic within the body. On the topic of human-spurred climate change, Gerringer mentioned “the deep sea relies on cold sinking water to bring oxygen. And as the water at the surface is warming up due to things like the burning of fossil fuels, we’re seeing a loss of some of that oxygen and a slowing of the sinking,” in reference to the slowing of a system referred to as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC)—which you can find Lamron articles on!
In closing, Gerringer wanted to make it clear to students that the inhabitants of the deep sea past the abyssal zone are not something to fear: “That’s the misconception I would love to help push back on, because there’s so much really beautiful and incredible adaptation and deep sea habitats. I think a lot of people have these mental images of things like the anglerfish or viperfish.” She continued, “But there’s really nothing to be afraid of about the deep ocean. These are our neighbors on our planet and deep oceans play a really important role in things like heat transport on the planet, in Earth’s climate, as well as being incredible areas of really beautiful biodiversity.”
To Dr. Gerringer—and what she hopes to be the wider populace—the deep sea evokes “the same feeling as being in a national park or those places that are so very special and peaceful and quiet to us. I would love for people to think of the deep sea as somewhere beautiful, somewhere worth protecting, because it is.” She would like to make it adamantly clear that anyone, regardless of their major or background can be an asset to these scientific research endeavors—do not overlook them, because you may find yourself a part of a fascinating discovery!