LOOK: New marine species discovered in the Philippines

“The Philippines is jam-packed with diverse and threatened marine species—it’s one of the most astounding regions of biodiversity on Earth.”

In celebration of World Oceans Day, the California Academy of Sciences revealed a myriad of new species from the Philippines. The seven-week exploration, funded by the National Science Foundation, resulted in a collection of rare and new species that can be only found in the country. The Academy’s Steinhart Aquarium in San Francisco, California will be opening in the summer of 2016 and will include these new discoveries which includes live animals from the dimly-lit, deep-water reefs of the Philippines.

It was at the Verde Island Passage where the scientists explored and made these marine discoveries.

Scientists surveying the region’s diversity snorkeled in sandy shallows, scanned steep, clear-water reefs, and dove to unimaginable depths—150 to 500 feet beneath the ocean’s surface—in deep-water “twilight zone” regions never before seen by human eyes. Extensive fieldwork yielded thrilling results; the 2015 research sites appeared every bit as diverse as previous expedition visits to distant Passage regions.

What beautiful elements did the scientists discover? The Dailypedia has gathered a few photos of these magnificent species.