Core Insights - The research team from the Victoria Museum in Australia has created a global distribution and evolutionary relationship map of the sea snake tail, revealing that marine life connections in the deep sea are more intricate than previously thought [1][2] - The study, published in the latest issue of Nature, indicates that the sea snake tail, an ancient polychaete that has existed for 480 million years, can be found from shallow waters to depths exceeding 3,500 meters [1] - The analysis of 2,699 specimens from 48 natural history museums, collected during 332 scientific expeditions, has uncovered the migration mysteries of this deep-sea animal [1] Research Findings - Sea snake tails, which lack fins and wings, can migrate across oceans via deep-sea currents, with their larvae's extended survival in cold water being crucial for this "free ride" [1] - The study provides a new perspective on marine evolution, suggesting that the deep sea is not an isolated environment but rather a "biological highway" with extensive connectivity [1] - Notably, temperate deep-sea communities exhibit remarkable global interconnections, such as the close evolutionary ties between species in southern Australian waters and their "distant relatives" in the North Atlantic [1] Environmental Implications - The research highlights that deep-sea ecosystems are not entirely homogeneous; while species are dispersing, environmental changes and geological events continue to shape unique biodiversity patterns [1] - The findings underscore the importance of protecting deep-sea life in the face of threats from deep-sea mining and climate change [1][2]