A new species of deep-sea chiton has been officially named and described in the Biodiversity Data Journal, thanks to a unique collaboration between science communicator Ze Frank, Senckenberg, and Pensoft Publishers.
The Senckenberg Ocean species Alliance (SOSA), in partnership with Pensoft Publishers and popular science YouTuber Ze Frank, allowed the public to name a newly discovered deep-sea chiton (a type of marine mollusk). The formal description of the species was published today in the open-access Biodiversity Data Journal.
From YouTube video to Taxonomy
The story began when Ze Frank featured this rare deep-sea chiton (genus Ferreiraella) in an episode of his “True Facts” YouTube series. The research team responsible for describing the species received over 8,000 suggestions via social media. After careful consideration, they selected the name Ferreiraella populi from these submissions. the specific epithet populi is a Latin singular noun meaning ”of the people”. Interestingly, this name was independently suggested by 11 different contributors during the naming contest.
A Specialized Resident of the Deep sea
Ferreiraella populi was originally discovered in 2024 within the Izu-Ogasawara Trench at a depth of 5,500 meters. this new deep-sea chiton belongs to a rare and specialized group that lives exclusively on sunken wood at great depths.
The new species represents an addition to a lineage that has been little researched so far and provides further evidence that deep-sea wood-fall ecosystems host highly specialized and still largely undiscovered communities.
explains Prof. Dr. Julia Sigwart, co-chair of SOSA at the Senckenberg research Institute and natural History Museum Frankfurt
Chitons are often described as a cross between a snail and a beetle. Unlike common mollusks with a single shell, chitons possess eight separate shell plates (valves). This unique anatomy allows them to roll into a protective ball or cling to the irregular surfaces of deep-sea wood-falls.
how is a scientific name formed?
Every newly discovered species is assigned a scientific name as part of its original taxonomic description, following Carl Linnaeus’s principle of binomial nomenclature.The name consists of two parts: the genus name (the first part, capitalized and italicized) and the specific epithet (the second part, lowercase and italicized). It must be novel, unique, and latinized. Usually, epithets are derived from characteristics like color or size, geographic locations, mythology or personal names used to honor an individual.
ferreiraella populi exemplifies the overwhelming biodiversity of our oceans; though most remains unexplored. Many species go extinct before we even know they exist – this is especially true for marine invertebrates.
says Prof. Dr. Julia Sigwart
The formal description and naming process for Ferreiraella populi took onyl two years after its discovery in 2024 – much faster than usual which can take up to twenty years! This is crucial for conservation efforts as many species face threats such as deep-sea mining.
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Research paper:
(SOSA) SOSA, Chen C, Frank H, Kraniotis L, Nakadera Y, Schwabe E, Sigwart JD, Trautwein B, Vončina K (2026) Ocean Species Discoveries 28-30 – new species of chitons (Mollusca, Polyplacophora) and a public naming competition. Biodiversity Data Journal 14: e180491. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.14.e180491
That’s amazing – can’t wait to see what name was chosen!