New glow-in-the-dark fish discovered

Platefish and ocean.
Photo by stephan kerkhofs/Shutterstock

Just when you thought the ocean was bizarre and interesting enough, a new type of fish revealed its glowing fins! The new species of bioluminescent deep-sea fish are from the Opisthoproctidae family and are known as Barreleyes. With their tubular eyes and strange glow, the unique marine creatures are a part of a largely unknown fish group due to its fragility and difficulty spotting. Scientists from the Australian Museum in Sydney were able to decipher the two new species from its close relatives by examining differences in pigment patterns on the fish’s “sole.” According to the researchers’ study, the fish were caught during their missions close to American Samoa, New Zealand, the mid Atlantic ridge, and Australia.

New species of barreleye fish.

Photo courtesy of www.popsci.com


Also on RNR: