Scientists Discover Three Strange New Deep-Sea Snailfish Species, Including the Pink “Bumpy Snailfish”
Scientists have identified three previously unknown species of deep-sea snailfish, including a striking pink species named the bumpy snailfish (Careproctus colliculi). The discovery was made possible through collaboration between the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) and researchers at SUNY Geneseo, the University of Montana, and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
In 2019, MBARI’s remotely operated vehicle Doc Ricketts captured video of a small pink fish gliding over the seafloor at a depth of more than 3,200 meters off the coast of California. Follow-up analysis confirmed it was a new species. “Our discovery of not one, but three, new species of snailfishes is a reminder of how much we have yet to learn about life on Earth and of the power of curiosity and exploration,” said SUNY Geneseo Associate Professor Mackenzie Gerringer.
Snailfishes, belonging to the family Liparidae, are known for their soft, gelatinous bodies, large heads, and unique suction disks that help them cling to surfaces or even hitch rides on other sea creatures. With over 400 species worldwide, they occupy habitats ranging from tide pools to the deepest ocean trenches—the deepest-living fish ever recorded is a snailfish.
The newly described species include the bumpy snailfish, the dark snailfish (Careproctus yanceyi) with its jet-black body, and the sleek snailfish (Paraliparis em), which has a long, compressed body and lacks a suction disk.
“MBARI seeks to make ocean exploration more accessible… documenting deep-sea biodiversity is critical to detecting any changes that may be occurring in this environment,” said MBARI Senior Scientist Steven Haddock, who led the expedition.
With climate change and human activities threatening deep-sea ecosystems, documenting species like these is crucial. The discoveries highlight both the fragility and richness of life in the ocean’s hidden depths.
