After centuries of science and exploration , you might think we know just about all there is to know about the planet we inhabit . But in the last year alone , scientists have discovered 1,451 new species in our oceans , according to an international audit of the seas published today . The marine creatures include weird and wonderful beasts from the deepest , darkest oceans , microscopic shrimp from coastal caves and even two new types of dolphin . Marine explorers off the coast of Australia discovered the venomous 'Keesingia gigas ' jellyfish last summer – long as a man ’ s arm and powerful enough to kill a human . Scroll down for video . Scientists have discovered 1,451 new species in our oceans in the past year alone , according to an international audit of the seas , including the frilled shark ( pictured ) which was found off the coast of Namibia . The Indonesian Psychedelic Frog Fish ( pictured ) was found off Ambon Island in Indonesia by marine experts . The 'star-gazer ' shrimp was found in the seas off South Africa , with striped eyes fixed on top of its tiny red body , seemingly staring at the heavens . And in 2014 biologists identified two new species of dolphin – one found near Papua New Guinea and the other in a Brazilian river – both of which are already threatened by fishermen . Despite the expansion of our knowledge however , scientists estimate we still only know about a tenth of the marine life on Earth . The World Register of Marine Species – which aims to become an inventory of all known ocean life – numbers 228,000 species , with new names being added every day . But scientists estimate there could eventually be two million on the list as our knowledge of the oceans grows . Over the last eight years since the project started , scientists have pored over records , examined historic journals , and poked and prodded the bodies of mysterious creatures of the deep . After countless hours of research , they have found we know only a fraction of the fish , whales and sharks swimming around our shores , or the squid and shrimp found in the darkest reaches of our oceans . The acceleration in research means four species are being added to the record a day . The World Register of Marine Species - which aims to become an inventory of all known ocean life - numbers 228,000 species , with new names being added daily . Pictured : A Polychaete Carpet Worm found off Japan . Skeleton Shrimp ( pictured ) were among the new discoveries after being found off the coast of California . Over the last eight years 122 sharks and rays have been added to the register , along with 131 members of the goby fish family and hundreds of different sponges . But experts say we still know little about the waters that make up 70 per cent of the Earth ’ s surface . At the current rate , it would take 360 more years to identify every creature thought to exist in the oceans , the researchers say . Dr Jan Mees , of the Flanders Marine Institute in Belgium and co-chairman of the marine register programme , said : ‘ It is humbling to realise that humankind has encountered and described only a fraction of our oceanic kin , perhaps as little as 11 per cent . ‘ The main gap at the moment is because of the under-exploration of the oceans . 'There are many , many places we have never been. ’ But he added : ‘ Sadly , we fear , many species will almost certainly disappear due to changing maritime conditions – especially warming , pollution and acidification – before we ’ ve had a chance to meet. ’ 'The knowledge is vital for conservation efforts . 'Without knowing what species are there , we have no way of knowing what is at risk . ' Some discoveries have significant benefits . Certain varieties of sea sponges , for example , have yielded valuable cancer-fighting agents . Experts estimate marine life has the potential to create more than 200 potential cancer drugs .
Scientists have discovered 1,451 new species in our oceans in past year . Creatures include beasts from the deep , microscopic shrimp and dolphins . Marine explorers discovered ‘ Keesingia gigas ’ jellyfish off Australian coast . ' he discovery of these creatures is a major breakthrough for marine science.