This children’s article, A new deep-sea predator discovered in the Atacama Trench, has been written for native English speakers and learners of English as a second or foreign language. It can help children practise reading and comprehension, learn useful vocabulary, and explore one of the most mysterious parts of our planet: the deep ocean. Written by Sinéad O’Carroll, a teacher and writer at English News For Kids.
A strange creature from the deep
In one of the darkest and deepest parts of the ocean, scientists have discovered something completely new – a tiny predator unlike anything we’ve seen before.
Nearly 8,000 metres below the surface, in a place called the Atacama Trench, this four-centimetre-long crustacean (a creature like a crab or shrimp) was found by scientists from Chile and the US. The discovery is not only a new species, it’s also a new genus, which means it belongs to a whole new group in the animal kingdom.
What is the Atacama Trench?
The Atacama Trench is an extremely deep part of the Pacific Ocean. It runs along the coast of Peru and Chile and reaches almost 8,000 metres deep. That’s nearly as far down as Mount Everest is tall!
This area is part of what scientists call the Hadal zone – the deepest zone of the ocean. It’s cold, dark, and under huge pressure, yet some forms of life can survive there.
Meet the mighty Dulcibella Camanchaca
The newly discovered crustacean has been named Dulcibella camanchaca. Even though it’s only about the size of a paperclip, it’s a fierce predator. It uses long, spiky arms called raptorial appendages to grab and trap smaller creatures.
Its hunting style is so dramatic that some people have compared it to something from an alien movie!
Even more amazing? D. camanchaca can survive pressures up to 800 times stronger than what we feel at sea level.
Why this discovery is important
This discovery shows how much we still don’t know about our own planet.
The deep ocean is full of mystery, and scientists believe there could be many more new species waiting to be found. Discovering new animals like D. camanchaca helps us understand how life can survive in extreme conditions and why it’s so important to protect the oceans.
You can learn more about deep-sea life on the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution website.
Article vocabulary list
- Crustacean – A sea creature with a hard shell, like a crab or shrimp.
- Genus – A group in science used to classify living things.
- Hadal zone – The deepest part of the ocean.
- Predator – An animal that hunts and eats other animals.
- Raptorial appendages – Special limbs used for grabbing prey.
- Pressure – The force that pushes on something, like water pushing down in the deep ocean.
- Trench – A deep, narrow part of the ocean floor
Comprehension questions
Just click the plus (+) to see the answer
1. Where was the new crustacean discovered?
a) In the Arctic Ocean
b) In the Atacama Trench
c) In the Great Barrier Reef
Answer: b) In the Atacama Trench
2. How deep is the Atacama Trench?
a) About 2,000 metres
b) About 5,000 metres
c) About 8,000 metres
Answer: c) About 8,000 metres
3. What is special about Dulcibella camanchaca?
a) It can glow in the dark
b) It’s a new species and a new genus
c) It can fly underwater
Answer: b) It’s a new species and a new genus
4. What does D. camanchaca use to catch its prey?
Answer: It uses raptorial appendages to trap smaller animals.
5. Why is deep-ocean exploration important?
Answer: Because it helps us discover new species and understand more about life in extreme places.
Sinead is a writer and EFL teacher with eight years’ experience. She’s a native English speaker who loves making news stories fun and easy to understand for children around the world. Her passions include travel, animals, and helping to make the world a kinder, more sustainable place.
