Meet ‘Snuffleupagus,’ a newfound fish sporting shaggy camouflage
A new species of fish, nicknamed 'Snuffleupagus,' has been discovered in the coral reefs near Australia. This ghost pipefish is notable for its shaggy camouflage that allows it to blend seamlessly with its surroundings. The species was first described in the Journal of Fish Biology on May 10.
- ▪The Snuffleupagus fish is a type of ghost pipefish, related to seahorses.
- ▪It was first encountered by marine biologist David Harasti while scuba diving in Papua New Guinea in 2003.
- ▪The fish's camouflage mimics colorful coral and algae, helping it evade predators.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
News Animals Meet ‘Snuffleupagus,’ a newfound fish sporting shaggy camouflage The uncanny species has a thick coat that mimics colorful coral The newly described "Snuffleupagus" fish has uncanny camouflage that allows it to blend in with the bright coral reefs near Australia. Darren Rice By Jake Buehler 38 seconds ago Share this:Share Share via email (Opens in new window) Email Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Share on X (Opens in new window) X Print (Opens in new window) Print In shallow seas near Australia, a familiar, trunked face emerges from billowing tufts of red algae. The fish it belongs to, though, is new to science. The woolly, reddish fish is a variety of ghost pipefish, camouflaged fishes related to seahorses.
…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Science News.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from Science News
