Sea cucumber or greeneye fish: which deep-sea newcomer is stranger?

A 2026 expedition near the remote Christmas and Cocos islands surveyed the Indian Ocean seafloor and identified 149 species new to science. The haul included a new Oneirophanta sea cucumber and a new Chlorophthalmus greeneye fish, living in cold, dark, high-pressure habitats. Which discovery feels more unexpected? Source: Mongabay, August 26, 2026; study published in Deep-Sea Research Part II. Original editorial visuals.