New species of sea creature discovered by scientists in UK waters
A new species of sea creature has been discovered in UK waters.
Previously, there were only thought to be two species of the pleurobranchid genus of sea slug – none of whom had ever been seen in UK waters before now.
But scientists from the Centre for Environmental Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) working in waters off the southwest of England discovered a third species.
It has been named Pleurobranchaea britannica, and it was found during expeditions carried out in 2018 and 2019 in the western Channel and Celtic Sea by CEFAS and the Instituto Espanol de Oceanografía.
Fourteen specimens were discovered of the new species, which measures between two and five centimetres and is a type of side-gill sea slug.
While other species of sea slugs are common, such a variation is more frequently found in warmer waters in the Mediterranean Sea. Scientists think it could have moved so far north due to the ongoing effects of climate change.
At first researchers thought they had discovered an existing genus, before further examination showed it was a standalone species.
Scientists behind the find described it as ‘thrilling’. Pic: CEFAS
Ross Bullimore, a Marine Ecologist at CEFAS who made the discovery, said: “It only took a brief inspection of two specimens to be confident that we had stumbled upon a species of Pleurobranchaea. This was thrilling because no other species from this genus had been documented in UK waters, or even this far north.
“After close collaboration with the University of Cadiz, who carried out a more thorough assessment, we were blown away to discover that we had identified a third, new species. There is often an assumption that we know everything there is to know about species found in UK waters, but this just goes to show that there is still so much to learn in our own backyard.”
Read more from Sky News:
More than a billion people worldwide are obese
Ultra-processed foods linked to 32 physical and mental health problems
Dr. Juan Lucas Cervera Currado, full professor of the Department of Biology at the University of Cadiz, Spain, said: “When Cefas scientists contacted me and told me that they had collected individuals belonging to the sea slug genus Pleurobranchaea, but whose specific identity was not clear, I was really surprised.
“Firstly, because species from this genus have never been found in the British Isles, and secondly because the possibility of having found a new species of this genus in European waters was really exciting.”
He went on to add that the new species could be spread across the west coast of France and northern coasts of Spain and Portugal.
A woman who was stabbed to death in north London has been named by police – as a man was arrested on suspicion of murder.
Pamela Munro, 45, was found with a stab wound and died at the scene in Ayley Croft, Enfield, on Saturday evening, the Metropolitan Police said.
A 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder on Monday and is in custody, the force added.
Detective Chief Inspector Neil John said: “Investigating officers have worked relentlessly across the weekend to investigate the circumstances around Pamela’s death.
“We continue to support her family who are understandably devastated.”
Police at the scene at Ayley Croft in Enfield
Read more from Sky News:
Fresh appeal over student’s murder
100 firefighters battle flats blaze
The Met Police has asked anyone with information or who was driving through Ayley Court between 6.30pm and 7.30pm on Saturday and may have dashcam footage to contact the force.
A “British man” has died after being beaten and set on fire by a mob in Ecuador, according to reports by media in the South American country.
According to reports, the man – who has not been officially identified – had been detained by police after being accused of being involved in a fatal shooting.
Ecuadorian news outlet Ecuavisa reported that the man had been taken to a police station Playas del Cuyabeno, a remote village in the Amazon rainforest.
While there, a group broke into the station and took the man away. He was then set on fire in the street, it is reported, and died from his burns.
The incident reportedly happened in the Playas del Cuyabeno area of Sucumbios province
Another local report, from EXTRA.ec, said that specialist police units had been slow to arrive due to the geographical conditions of the area – which is accessible by river.
Read more from Sky News:
IDF finds ‘failings’ over attack on aid workers
Pope blesses Easter crowds from popemobile
According to reports, police officers at the station apparently decided they could not intervene when the mob arrived out of concerns for their own safety.
It is understood the UK Foreign Office is following up reports about the incident and working with local authorities to confirm the details.
-
Sports2 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports1 year agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business3 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway