A "bizarre" host of newly-discovered deep-sea creatures were found near underwater volcanos in a remote part of the Indian Ocean.
Scientists from the Museums Victoria Research Institute in Australia were shocked to find bat-like fish, blind eels and lizard fish with rows of razor-sharp teeth.
They were found during an expedition to Austalia’s remote Cocos (Keeling) Islands Marine Park, an area of 290,213 square miles (467,054 square kilometres) around 1,708 miles (2,750 kms) north-west of Perth, itself in the west of Australia.
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The territory's two coral atolls comprise 27 tiny islands with white-sand beaches, palm trees and lagoons.
The team, collecting samples from over three miles deep, surveyed previously unknown deep-sea life including a blind eel with gelatinous skin that gives birth to live young.
The researchers were fascinated by the badly developed eyes of the creature which was found at over three miles deep.
They also discovered a Highfin lizardfish, which have both ovaries and testes simultaneously.
Also found was a flatfish whose eyes are on one side of its head to retain vision while laying on the seabed.
Deep sea batfishes that use their arm-like fins to crawl on the ocean floor were also found.
The Sloane’s Viperfish, with its long trail of lights along its underbelly, also stood out amongst the finds.
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"The fish are the standout deep-sea fashionistas," expedition chief scientist Tim O'Hara of the Museums Victoria Research Institute told Live Science.
"They come in all shapes and sizes, with light organs, lures, rays modified into tripods or camouflage appendages, and huge (or missing) eyes. Each species superbly adapted to the extreme deep-sea environments."
He added: “We have discovered an amazing number of potentially new species living in this remote marine park."
The team also produced detailed three-dimensional images of the massive mountain underneath the islands, another first.
“It’s truly an honor to see, for the first time, these stunning features revealed from the deep," Nelson Kuna, one of two Hydrographic Surveyors on board, said.
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