LOOK: New marine species discovered in the Philippines

1. The heart urchin, a ‘living fossil’

A fossil of a sea urchin which researchers linked to a long-lost relative from the Prenaster genus was discovered at 70 feet below the ocean’s surface off Puerto Galera. It is believed to have roamed the seafloor about 50 million years ago.

It’s critical we fill the gaps in knowledge about the life that thrives in the Philippines—you never know when you’re going to discover a living fossil among the corals. We want to work with folks in the Philippines and global scientific community to help sustain these unique environments for generations to come.