New fish species looks just like Mr. Snuffleupagus
Boing Boing • • science
Key Points:
- A new species of ghost pipefish named Solenostomus snuffleupagus has been discovered in the southwest Pacific Ocean, named after the beloved Sesame Street character Mr. Snuffleupagus due to its long snout and hairy appearance.
- The fish measures between one and 1.5 inches long and is notable for its dramatic camouflage, resembling floating red algae, which helps it evade detection by divers.
- This species is distinct from its relatives, having more vertebrae and a much hairier exterior made of filaments attached to bony plates, giving it a shaggy silhouette.
- The discovery was detailed in a scientific paper by marine biologist David Harasti and ichthyologist Graham Short, with further coverage and visuals provided by Scientific American.
- Scientists are excited about this find as ghost pipefishes are elusive and not well understood, and CT scans confirmed S. snuffleupagus as a unique species diverging from relatives about 18 million years ago.