Nature & Environment

Weird translucent fish discovered in the sea near Alaska

By T.K. Randall
July 7, 2022

Image: AI-generated (Midjourney) Sporting a translucent, gelatinous body with white spots and a suction cup on its belly, this bizarre creature is known as a blotched snailfish, or Crystallichthys cyclospilus.

It lives deep down on the ocean floor at depths of over 2,700ft and is found only in the North Pacific.

This particular specimen was discovered by researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) during a routine survey of the ocean off the Aleutian Islands in Alaska.According to expedition member Sarah Friedman, the fish was "very gelatinous" to the touch.

"This is thought to be an adaptation to maintain neutral buoyancy and efficiently swim while coping with the crushing pressure of the deep sea," she told Live Science.

"They live in relatively remote locations and at deeper depths, so the average person will never encounter this species."

Been hoping to see one of these in person for a long time! Blotched snailfish (Crystallichthys cyclospilus) pic.twitter.com/RHxvxAeTog

— Sarah Friedman, PhD (@sarahtfried) June 19, 2022

Source: Live Science

Tags: Fish