Scientists Discover New Ghost Pipefish Species Disguised as Algae

Solenostomus snuffleupagus, besides known arsenic the Ghost Pipefish. Credit: David Harasti / CC BY 4.0

Scientists person discovered a new species of shade pipefish that disguises itself arsenic reddish algae truthful convincingly that it fooled researchers, depository curators, and national scientists for decades.

The species, named “Solenostomus snuffleupagus,” was hiding successful plain show connected coral reefs crossed the southwest Pacific, consistently misidentified arsenic a known relative.

Graham Short of the Australian Museum Research Institute successful Sydney led the study, published successful the Journal of Fish Biology. The researchers named the taxon aft Mr. Snuffleupagus from Sesame Street due to the fact that of the fish’s distinctly shaggy, hair-like quality and elongated snout.

Two depository specimens collected successful 1993 from the Coral Sea disconnected Queensland, Australia, had sat successful collections unrecognized for implicit 30 years.

Since 2005, divers regularly photographed the food astatine Saxon and Norman Reefs connected the Great Barrier Reef and shared images connected platforms similar iNaturalist and Facebook groups dedicated to reef wildlife. Those records were astir ever filed nether the incorrect taxon name.

Ghost pipefish disguised arsenic algae fooled scientists for decades

To corroborate it arsenic a genuinely caller species, the researchers utilized 3 methods together. They examined outer features, ran high-resolution CT scans to survey the interior skeleton, and analyzed DNA.

Ghost Pipefish, successful situ, Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Credit: David Harasti / CC BY 4.0

Genetic investigating revealed a 22 percent quality successful a mitochondrial cistron betwixt the caller taxon and its closest relative, “Solenostomus paegnius.” That divergence points to a divided astir 18 cardinal years ago, during the aboriginal Miocene period.

Several features acceptable this food apart. It has 36 vertebrae, much than immoderate different known shade pipefish. Its assemblage is unusually compact and heavy toward the front. The skull crest follows a reversed signifier of intersexual dimorphism compared to its relative, with males carrying a much salient crest alternatively than females.

The food besides has lone 2 anchor-shaped interior bony structures adjacent its rear fins, compared to 3 successful the related species. It wholly lacks a ventral bony furniture that its closest comparative possesses.

CT imaging finds food remains wrong a caller taxon specimen

CT imaging of 1 specimen revealed thing unexpected. Partially digested remains of a small fish were recovered successful the gut, the archetypal recorded lawsuit of a shade pipefish eating different fish. The genus was antecedently known to provender lone connected tiny crustaceans and zooplankton.

The food typically shows orangish to reddish coloring, intimately matching the reddish macroalgae it lives among. Occasional individuals from Papua New Guinea look purple, and 1 greenish idiosyncratic was photographed connected the Great Barrier Reef. Divers person documented the taxon arsenic acold eastbound arsenic Tonga.

The find brings the full fig of recognized shade pipefish taxon to seven.