Washington, Nov 26: Scientists have discovered a new species of sea anemone which can swim and walk across the floor.

This particular attribute in this specie is different as sea anemones are normally known to anchor themselves on the seafloor and show no signs of movement.

Found in waters surrounding the Aleutian Islands near Alaska, this new specie (termed Aureophycus aleuticus), is a type of brown algae that might represent a new genus, or even family  of the seaweed. Up to 10 feet long, the kelp was discovered near thermal vents in the region of the Islands of the Four Mountains.

Sea anemones are animals that typically use a foot to anchor to rocks. Some are known to detach when attacked or if their environment changes and food becomes scarce.

The new species likely belong to a class of anemones that can detach and drift with ocean currents.

"Since the underwater world of the Aleutian Islands has been studied so little, new species are being discovered even today," said Stephen Jewett, a marine biologist at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, and the dive expedition leader.

Jewett and his team are studying the Aleutian waters to gauge the overall health of the islands and life there. (ANI)