UPDATE: Recent Abyssal Success Underscores Lingering Mystery

BBC News, 7 October 2008 - 'Deepest ever' living fish filmed

A UK-Japan team found the 17-strong shoal at depths of 7.7km (4.8 miles) in the Japan Trench in the Pacific - and captured the deep sea animals on film. The scientists have been using remote-operated landers designed to withstand immense pressures to comb the world's deepest depths for marine life. ... The fish, known as Pseudoliparis amblystomopsis, can be seen darting about in the darkness of the depths, scooping up shrimps.

The deepest record for any fish is Abyssobrotula galatheae, which was dredged from the bottom of the Puerto Rico Trench at a depth of more than 8km (5 miles) in 1970. However, it was dead by the time it reached the surface.

July 31, 2006 - Submarine Mystery: No Photo Available (since 1970). Apparently the last 0.2 mile (1,056 ft.) is the difference between getting photos (even videos, now) and having none. The mystery Abyssobrotula galatheae was dredged from the bottom of the Puerto Rico Trench at a depth of more than 8km (5 miles) in 1970. However, it was dead by the time it reached the surface.

Now we know it took Nielson 7 years to classify and name the dredged carcass. Obviously, M.E. will not believe the Abyssobrotula galatheae (Abby gals) really exists until a photo is made available. The world has waited about 38 years for a photo.