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Scientists discovered that at least 235 species live in both polar seas despite the fact that there is about 13.000 kilometers distance between them.

The scientists found marine life that both poles apparently share in common include marathoners such as grey whales (www.eol.org/pages/328569) and birds, but also worms, crustaceans, and angelic snail-like pteropods, the latter discoveries opening a host of future research questions about where they originated and how they wound up at both ends of the Earth.

DNA analysis is underway to confirm whether the species are indeed identical.

Among many other findings, the scientists also documented evidence of cold water-loving species shifting towards both poles to escape rising ocean temperatures.

"The polar seas, far from being biological deserts, teem with an amazing quantity and variety of life," says Dr. Ian Poiner, Chair of the Census Scientific Steering Committee.

Scientists discovered that cold water species are migrating toward the poles trying to avoid rising ocean temperatures.

Researchers who participated in this project believe that there are about 7.500 animal species in the Antarctic and 5.500 in the Arctic.

Started in the year 2000, Census of Marine Life (CoML) is an international science research program uniting thousands of researchers worldwide with the goal of assessing and explaining the diversity, distribution and abundance of marine life – past, present and future – by 2010.

Story and photo source: www.eurekalert.org