Reptillian Escargot Found In Deep Seas–Culinary Attack Imminent (Picture)

Scientists have discovered the world’s deepest fish – a snailfish found at a depth of 26,722 feet.

The fish, with wing-like fins and an eel-like tail, was discovered gliding deep in the western Pacific Ocean, beating the previous record by 500 feet.

Several new species of fish were also discovered during a scientific voyage to the Mariana Trench near Guam in the Pacific Ocean, the world’s deepest stretch of water. The trench has a maximum known depth of about 36,000 feet.

The 30-day expedition was led by scientists from the University of Hawaii and scoped a wide section of the ocean floor, rather than focusing merely on the deepest known point.

“Many studies have rushed to the bottom of the trench, but from an ecological view that is very limiting,” said Dr Jeff Drazen, a co-chief scientist.

“It’s like trying to understand a mountain ecosystem by only looking at its summit.”

The voyage was assisted by Britain’s deepest diving vehicle – the University of Aberdeen’s Hadal Lander – which recorded more than 100 hours of footage.

Previously, the deepest fish ever found had been a gelatinous snailfish found in the Japan Trench, also in the Pacific Ocean.

Scientists believe the findings will help to shed light on how creatures survive in extreme conditions.

Video: life in the Mariana Trench

Dr Alan Jamieson, from the University of Aberdeen, said he believed the deep sea fish was a snailfish – an assessment made by other experts who have viewed it.

“We think it is a snailfish, but it’s so weird……..MOREHERE