Flat-faced Crawling Fish Discovered

[DarkSide]

After countless centuries, this odd anglerfish may finally be ready for its close-up.

Discovered in Indonesia in January, the species has forward-looking eyes like a human and crawls rather than swims.

These and other traits suggest the fist-size animal may represent a new family of fishes, University of Washington fish expert Ted Pietsch announced on April 2, when this photo was released. DNA tests are needed for confirmation.

Pietsch first learned of the unnamed species from dive-facility operators on Ambon island, Indonesia. "I knew it had to be an anglerfish because of the leglike pectoral fins on its sides," he said in a statement.

But the new species lacks the trademark forehead "lure" that other anglerfish use to attract prey.

FULL ARTICLE: Flat-Faced Crawling Fish Discovered - National Geographic.

 

[piranha_trader]

After countless centuries, this odd anglerfish may finally be ready for its close-up.

Discovered in Indonesia in January, the species has forward-looking eyes like a human and crawls rather than swims.

These and other traits suggest the fist-size animal may represent a new family of fishes, University of Washington fish expert Ted Pietsch announced on April 2, when this photo was released. DNA tests are needed for confirmation.

Pietsch first learned of the unnamed species from dive-facility operators on Ambon island, Indonesia. "I knew it had to be an anglerfish because of the leglike pectoral fins on its sides," he said in a statement.

But the new species lacks the trademark forehead "lure" that other anglerfish use to attract prey.

FULL ARTICLE: Flat-Faced Crawling Fish Discovered - National Geographic.

Awesome markings on this one. Biodiversity at its finest. The human like face, the crawling....could we have a missing link here?

After countless centuries, this odd anglerfish may finally be ready for its close-up.

Discovered in Indonesia in January, the species has forward-looking eyes like a human and crawls rather than swims.

These and other traits suggest the fist-size animal may represent a new family of fishes, University of Washington fish expert Ted Pietsch announced on April 2, when this photo was released. DNA tests are needed for confirmation.

Pietsch first learned of the unnamed species from dive-facility operators on Ambon island, Indonesia. "I knew it had to be an anglerfish because of the leglike pectoral fins on its sides," he said in a statement.

But the new species lacks the trademark forehead "lure" that other anglerfish use to attract prey.

FULL ARTICLE: Flat-Faced Crawling Fish Discovered - National Geographic.

Awesome markings on this one. Biodiversity at its finest. The human like face, the crawling....could we have a missing link here?

 

[andywg]

It certainly appears to be of some sort of a frogfish, the body shape and pectoral legs are very similar to a frogfish

I would like to see behind the pectoral fins to see if it respires in the same way as frogfish (but I expect someone like Ted Pietsch can recgonise something of this ilk).

I would love to know whether it has a rod or not (as missing lures are far from unknown in frogfish).

 

[andywg]

More info can be found here

I have emailed Ted Pietsch and he says it lacks any evidence of a luring system at all. This looks like being a whole new genus to science.

 

[DarkSide]

The article does specify that it lacks a lure.

 

[andywg]

The article does specify that it lacks a lure.

I know that, but (as I stated above) missing lures are far from uncommon within frogfish. The interesting thing here is that both rod and lure are missing; the entire luring apperatus.