News of science:
The Scottish government has hailed the finds made during the surveys.
WWF Scotland said the results highlighted the need to better protect the marine environment.
Scottish Natural Heritage and Edinburgh's Heriot-Watt University were among organisations that carried out the work.
Underwater video was shot and acoustic and 3D images were used in the surveys.
Vessels from Marine Scotland, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) and the Northern Lighthouse Board were also involved.
Several rare species were recorded.
Off the west coast, fan mussels were found. Growing to up to 48cm long, the mussels are Scotland's largest sea shell.
Around the Small Isles more than 100 specimens of marine life were noted.
Off Tankerness on Orkney, the government said the prehistoric "faceless and brainless" amphioxus fish was recorded.
The rarely-seen species was regarded as a modern representative of the first animals that evolved a backbone, the Scottish government said.
Flame shell beds were found in Loch Linnhe in Argyll With a nerve chord down its back, the fish does not have a clearly defined face or brain.
The largest horse mussel bed in Scotland was recorded near Noss Head in Caithness.
The molluscs stabilise seabeds, which in turn provides habitat for other species, and can live up to 50 years.
Other finds included flame shell beds in Loch Linnhe in Argyll and new communities of northern feather star off the Sound of Canna.
Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead described the finds as "weird and wonderful".
He added: "The waters around Scotland are rich in such fascinating biodiversity and it's our responsibility to protect this fragile environment.
"That's why we have ramped up our marine survey work, with plans being prepared for new surveys in 2012 to further our knowledge of what lies beneath Scotland's seas."
News source:BBC
Scotland's biggest horse mussel bed and a "faceless and brainless" fish were recorded during government-backed surveys this year.
The work covered almost 2,200 square miles - equivalent to an area one and a quarter times the size of the Cairngorms National Park.The Scottish government has hailed the finds made during the surveys.
WWF Scotland said the results highlighted the need to better protect the marine environment.
Scottish Natural Heritage and Edinburgh's Heriot-Watt University were among organisations that carried out the work.
Underwater video was shot and acoustic and 3D images were used in the surveys.
Vessels from Marine Scotland, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) and the Northern Lighthouse Board were also involved.
Several rare species were recorded.
Off the west coast, fan mussels were found. Growing to up to 48cm long, the mussels are Scotland's largest sea shell.
Around the Small Isles more than 100 specimens of marine life were noted.
Off Tankerness on Orkney, the government said the prehistoric "faceless and brainless" amphioxus fish was recorded.
The rarely-seen species was regarded as a modern representative of the first animals that evolved a backbone, the Scottish government said.
Flame shell beds were found in Loch Linnhe in Argyll The largest horse mussel bed in Scotland was recorded near Noss Head in Caithness.
The molluscs stabilise seabeds, which in turn provides habitat for other species, and can live up to 50 years.
Other finds included flame shell beds in Loch Linnhe in Argyll and new communities of northern feather star off the Sound of Canna.
Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead described the finds as "weird and wonderful".
He added: "The waters around Scotland are rich in such fascinating biodiversity and it's our responsibility to protect this fragile environment.
"That's why we have ramped up our marine survey work, with plans being prepared for new surveys in 2012 to further our knowledge of what lies beneath Scotland's seas."
News source:BBC
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