Scientists Pleased to Meet New Species

It's always stunning to me when scientists discover new species. And unlike the recent hexapus (the 6-legged octopus) that got so much press over a birth defect [click here to read about Henry the Hexapus], a recent expedition by New Zealand scientists to Antarctica's Ross Sea has uncovered all sorts of new and unusual species. Apparently, the scientists were on a 35 day census of the region, and traveled 2,000 miles collecting over 30,000 sea creatures. In any case, National Geographic has a terrific gallery here, but I've pulled 2 of my favorites below: a pic of giant starfish, and one of the stareater, which uses that dangling luminous chin appendage to lure fish close, before gobbling them down! Link via the always reliable BoingBoing.