Scaly pink sea creature with an extra ‘eye’ found in West Pacific. It’s a new species
Underneath the expansive blue waters of the West Pacific Ocean, a scaly sea creature went about its day. Suddenly, a massive net enveloped the animal and pulled it toward the surface.
Scientists then looked at the captured creature and discovered it was a new species.
Researchers were intrigued by a “diverse and colorful” group of fish known as cusk-eels, according to an Aug. 22 study published in the journal Zootaxa. Cusk-eel fish typically live along the sloping seafloors of warmer oceans, such as the waters off the coast of Fiji, Japan and the Solomon Islands.
Studying a photograph of unidentified fish and preserved specimens, researchers noticed a fish with a “large” extra “eye” — and discovered a new species: Neobythites superocellatus, or the large eyespotted cusk-eel.
Large eyespotted cusk-eel fish can reach about 4 inches in size, the study said. The pink fish has an elongated body and “tapering tail.” In its mouth are “many small, pointed” teeth. On its top fin is a “large” ocellus, or eyespot, that extends onto its body. The eyespot is dark black with a “pale whitish-rose ring” surrounding it.
Researchers described the eyespot as “rather unique,” the study said. “We are not aware of any other examples in fishes where a similar (eyespot) structure exists.”
The new species was named “superocellatus” after this distinctive feature.
The large eyespotted cusk-eel fish has dark brown bands across its scaly body, a photo shows. Much of the animal’s pattern is faded in preserved specimens, another photo shows
The new species has been found off the Solomon Islands during dredging and trawling, the study said. This area of the West Pacific Ocean is known as the Solomon Sea.
Researchers also discovered four more new species of cusk-eel fish. The other new species include: Neobythites japonicus, Neobythites jonathan, Neobythites zora and Neobythites pako.
Like the large eyespotted cusk-eel, the other new species were identified based on their eyespot patterns, fin shape and skeletal structure, the study said. Researchers did not provide a DNA analysis of the new species.
The research team included Franz Uiblein and Jørgen G. Nielsen.
This story was originally published September 1, 2023 at 9:54 AM with the headline "Scaly pink sea creature with an extra ‘eye’ found in West Pacific. It’s a new species."
