Dulcibella

Dulcibella camanchaca is a species of amphipod in the monotypic genus Dulcibella.^[a] The species inhabits the Atacama Trench, and is found at depths of nearly 8,000 m (26,000 ft) in the South Pacific Ocean near Chile;^[5][6] this makes it one of the deepest-living predators identified to date, being well adapted to the extreme conditions of the hadal zone.^[7][8]

Dulcibella
Holotype specimen; female
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Malacostraca
Order:	Amphipoda
Family:	Eusiridae
Genus:	Dulcibella Weston & González, 2024
Species:	D. camanchaca
Binomial name
Dulcibella camanchaca Weston & González, 2024[1]

Discovery

The species was first observed during a 2023 oceanographic expedition,^[9] in the process of installing the Integrated Deep-Ocean Observing System (IDOOS), a network of sensors designed to aid scientific research within the Atacama Trench.^[10] The research team used benthic landers to collect specimens from depths nearing 8,000 meters, and four specimens were used to describe the species.^[11] Dulcibella camanchaca was formally described in 2024 by marine biologists Johanna Weston and Carolina González;^[12][13] the identification of D. camanchaca as a new species was confirmed through DNA analysis and detailed morphological examination.^[14] This discovery has contributed to the growing recognition of the Atacama Trench as a region of high biodiversity and endemism.^[15][16] Continued exploration of these regions may yield insights into the adaptations and biodiversity of organisms living in extreme conditions.^[17]

Description

Dulcibella camanchaca is larger than most other amphipods found at similar depths, measuring approximately 4 cm (1.6 in) in length.^[18] It exhibits predatory behavior, using specialized appendages to capture and consume smaller crustaceans,^[19] which suggest an ecological role as an active predator in the hadal zone.^[20][21]

Notes

1. The genus name Dulcibella derives from Dulcinea of Don Quixote, consistent with a tradition of naming amphipods after literary figures.^{[dubious – discuss][failed verification][2]} The specific epithet camanchaca originates from an Andean word^[vague] meaning "darkness," referencing its deep-sea habitat.^[3][4]