The mystery of what's lurking below, has just gotten more involved.

17,000+ new species have been discovered living in the ocean's pitch-black depths.

The creatures eat decaying matter floating down from above.

 "In the past we thought of the deep sea as a cold, barren place, a lifeless place. What this work is showing is that it's far from that, it's a place full of life, full of spectacular life, and understanding the role of these animals in our life support systems is critical for our future," says Ian Poiner, chairman of Census of Marine Life.

Scientists say oil and methane also are an energy source for the bottom-dwellers.

The new discovery is the latest update on a ten-year census of marine life.

Researchers have found around five thousand six hundred new species.

Over 2,000 scientists from eighty countries are working to catalogue the oceans' species and hope to add several thousand more by October of next year