These Newly Discovered Snailfish Get Bumpy, Dark, and Sleek in the Deep Sea

"In 2019, an encounter with an unfamiliar pink snailfish, which swam just above the sea floor, led to the documented discovery of a species not yet known to science: the bumpy snailfish. Detected in the deep ocean off the coast of California, this small, light pink-colored vertebrate is characteristic of a snailfish with a large head, jelly-like body, and a narrow, thin tail."

"MBARI researchers used a combination of microscopy, micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), and measuring techniques to collect detailed information about the snailfish. They also employed DNA sequencing methods to distinguish each of the three newly found fish from all other known species, confirming they're totally unique. This also allowed scientists to determine their evolutionary position in the broader Liparidae family, to which snailfish belong."

Researchers documented three new snailfish species—bumpy, dark, and sleek—found in deep waters off California. The bumpy snailfish is light pink with loose, bumpy skin; the dark snailfish is fully black; the sleek snailfish has a long body and lacks a suction disk. Field observations originated from a 2019 encounter with an unfamiliar pink snailfish. Researchers applied microscopy, micro-computed tomography, measurements, and DNA sequencing to characterize morphology, confirm genetic distinctiveness, and place the new species within the Liparidae family. Many snailfish species possess a belly disk used for gripping the seafloor or hitchhiking on larger animals.

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