{{Short description|Species of amphipod}} {{Excessive citations|date=June 2025}} {{Speciesbox | taxon = Dulcibella camanchaca | image = | image_caption = Holotype specimen; female | parent_authority = Weston & González, 2024 | authority = Weston & González, 2024<ref name="SaB">{{cite journal|date=27 November 2024 |doi=10.1080/14772000.2024.2416430 |first1=Johanna N. J. |first2=Carolina E. |first3=Rubén |first4=Osvaldo |journal=Systematics and Biodiversity |language=en |last1=Weston |last2=González |last3=Escribano |last4=Uloa |number=1 |title=A new large predator (Amphipoda, Eusiridae) hidden at hadal depths of the Atacama Trench |volume=22|article-number=2416430 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2024SyBio..2216430W }}<!-- auto-translated from Portuguese by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> }} '''''Dulcibella camanchaca''''' is a species of amphipod in the monotypic genus '''''Dulcibella'''''.{{Efn|The genus name ''Dulcibella'' derives from Dulcinea of ''Don Quixote'', consistent with two morphologically similar amphipod genera named after characters from Don Quixote: ''Cleonardo'' <small>Stebbing 1888</small> and ''Dorotea'' <small>Corbari, Frutos & Sorbe 2019</small>. The name ''Dulcinea'' was already a genus of Coleoptera. ''Dulcibella'' appears in medieval English literature.<ref name="SaB"/><ref>{{cite journal |last1= Corbari |first1= Laure |last2= Frutos |first2= Inmaculada |last3= Sorbe |first3= Jean-Claude |date= 2019 |title= ''Dorotea'' gen. nov., a new bathyal genus (''Amphipoda'', ''Eusiridae'') from the Solomon Sea (Papua New Guinea) |url= https://hal.sorbonne-universite.fr/hal-02164722v1/file/Corbari%20et%20al_MS_Dorotea.pdf |journal= Zootaxa |volume= 24568 |issue= 1 |publisher= |pages= 69-80 |doi= 10.11646/zootaxa.4568.1.4 |access-date= 11 November 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Darkness unveiled: Fierce alien-like predator emerges from Earth's deepest depths |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/etimes/trending/darkness-unveiled-fierce-alien-like-predator-emerges-from-earths-deepest-depths/articleshow/116320917.cms |work=Times of India}}</ref> The specific epithet ''camanchaca'' originates from the Aymara word ''kamanchaka'' "darkness", referencing its deep-sea habitat.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jess Thomson |date=10 December 2024 |title=Eerie 'Darkness' Predator Discovered in Deep Ocean |url=https://www.newsweek.com/new-species-crustacean-amphipod-predator-atacama-trench-deep-sea-1998549 |work=Newsweek}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Mark Kaufman |date=17 December 2024 |title=26,000 feet undersea, scientists find a ghostly predator |url=https://mashable.com/article/deep-sea-predator-ocean-discovery-dulcibella-camanchaca |work=Mashable}}</ref>}} The species inhabits the Atacama Trench, and is found at depths of nearly {{cvt|8,000|m}} in the South Pacific Ocean near Chile;<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sammi Caramela |date=18 December 2024 |title=Deep-Sea Predator Built for Killing Discovered 8,000 Meters Underwater |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/deep-sea-predator-built-for-killing-discovered-8000-meters-underwater/ |work=VICE News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Researchers discover new ocean predator in the Atacama Trench |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/researchers-discover-new-ocean-predator-in-the-atacama-trench/ar-AA1vy8bj |work=MSN}}</ref> this makes it one of the deepest-living predators identified to date, being well adapted to the extreme conditions of the hadal zone.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Alex Mitchell |date=17 December 2024 |title=Deep-sea predator discovered with a body made for 'capturing, killing and feasting', scientists say |url=https://nypost.com/2024/12/17/science/deep-sea-predator-discovered-with-a-body-made-to-kill-study/ |work=New York Post}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Mysterious 'Alien-Like' Creature Discovered By Scientists In Deep Ocean, Revealing Unexplored Marine World |url=https://www.thedailyjagran.com/world/mysterious-alienlike-creature-discovered-by-scientists-in-deep-ocean-revealing-unexplored-marine-worlds-10207004 |work=Jagran English}}</ref>
== Discovery == The species was first observed during a 2023 oceanographic expedition,<ref name=Dixit>{{Cite news |first=Mrigakshi |last=Dixit |date=2024-12-11 |title=Atacama Trench's terrifying new resident survives at extreme 25,900 feet |url=https://interestingengineering.com/science/atacama-trenchs-new-resident-at-25900-feet |work=Interesting Engineering}}</ref> in the process of installing the Integrated Deep-Ocean Observing System (IDOOS), a network of sensors designed to aid scientific research within the Atacama Trench.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chile completes the installation of its first Integrated Deep-Ocean Observing System |url=https://pogo-ocean.org/news/chile-completes-the-installation-of-its-first-integrated-deep-ocean-observing-system/ |access-date=2025-02-08 |website=Partnership for Observation of the Global Ocean |language=en-GB |first1=Osvaldo |last1=Ulloa |first2=Marcos |last2=Moreno |first3=Oscar |last3=Pizarro |date=2023-11-15 }}</ref> The research team used benthic landers to collect specimens from depths nearing {{convert|8000|m|spell=us}}; for comparison, the altitude of Mount Everest is just over {{convert|8800|m|spell=us}}. Four specimens were used to describe the species.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Divya |last=Dhingra |date=2024-12-17 |title=Scientists Discover Alien-Like Predator in the Ocean's Depths, Call It 'Darkness' |url=https://www.thetechoutlook.com/science/scientists-discover-alien-like-predator-in-the-oceans-depths-call-it-darkness/ |work=The Tech Outlook}}</ref>
In 2024, ''Dulcibella camanchaca'' was formally described by marine biologists Johanna Weston and Carolina González.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Alien-like' predator found by scientists in ocean depths, named 'darkness' {{!}} The amphipod was found in the Atacama Trench |url=https://inshorts.com/en/amp_news/-alien-like--predator-found-by-scientists-in-ocean-depths--named--darkness--1734243658418 |work=Inshorts}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |first=Amanda |last=Grzimel |title=Deep-sea discovery: New predator species found in Atacama trench |url=https://www.msn.com/en-ie/news/techandscience/deep-sea-discovery-new-predator-species-found-in-atacama-trench/ar-AA1vGTzG |work=MSN }}{{dead link|date=November 2025}}</ref> The identification of ''D. camanchaca'' as a new species was confirmed through DNA analysis and detailed morphological examination.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-12-22 |title=Scientists discover new 'miniature' predator on seabed |url=https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/other/scientists-discover-new-miniature-predator-on-seabed/ar-AA1wj30A? |work=MSN}}</ref> This discovery has contributed to the growing recognition of the Atacama Trench as a region of high biodiversity and endemism.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-12-13 |title=Scientists caught unknown marine predator |url=https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/scientists-caught-unknown-marine-predato-1734048427.html |work=RBC Ukraine}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Tommy |date=2024-12-10 |title=Newly Discovered Predator Thrives in the World's Most Unforgiving Ocean Depths |url=https://www.opticflux.com/newly-discovered-predator-thrives-in-the-worlds-most-unforgiving-ocean-depths/70058/ |work=Optic Flux}}</ref>
Continued exploration of these regions is expected to yield further insights into the adaptations and biodiversity of organisms living in extreme conditions.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Russell |last=McLendon |date=2024-12-12 |title=Scientists Discover New Deep-Sea Predator, Name It 'Darkness' |url=https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-discover-new-deep-sea-predator-name-it-darkness |work=ScienceAlert}}</ref>
== Description == {{Expand section|actual diagnostic characters<ref name="SaB"/>|date=June 2025}} ''Dulcibella camanchaca'' is larger than most other amphipods found at similar depths, measuring approximately {{cvt|4|cm}} in length.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Maya Edwards |date=15 December 2024 |title=Unbelievable Deep-Sea Discovery! Meet the Alien-Like Predator that Defies Expectations! |url=https://www.scimag.news/news-en/20902/unbelievable-deep-sea-discovery-meet-the-alien-like-predator-that-defies-expectations/ |work=www.scimag.news}}</ref> It exhibits predatory behavior, using specialized appendages to capture and consume smaller crustaceans,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dr. Emma Lee |date=12 December 2024 |title=Unveiling Darkness: Alien Predator Found in Ocean Depths Shocks Scientists Worldwide! |url=https://news.faharas.net/188289/alien-predator-discovered-in-oceans/ |work=Faharas Net}}</ref> which suggest an ecological role as an active predator in the hadal zone.<ref>{{Cite news |date=12 December 2024 |title=Creepy crustacean: Meet the deep sea predator named 'darkness' |url=https://oceanographicmagazine.com/news/newly-discovered-deep-sea-predator-crustacean-named-after-the-darkness/ |work=Oceanographic Magazine}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=17 December 2024 |title=Chile's Deep-Sea Discovery: A Predator in the Abyss |url=https://latinamericanpost.com/science-technology/chiles-deep-sea-discovery-a-predator-in-the-abyss/ |work=Latin American Post}}</ref>
== Notes == {{Notelist}}
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from1=Q131424541|from2=Q131424539}}
Category:Amphilochidea Category:Taxa described in 2024 Category:Monotypic amphipod genera Category:Amphipods of the Pacific Ocean Category:Endemic fauna of Chile Category:Species described in the 21st century