In 2019, researchers surveying the seafloor off the coast of California came upon three unusual species of small fishes with large heads: one with bumpy pink skin, and the other two both black in color. The team collected the fish using underwater research vehicles and later analyzed their DNA and bodies. Their analysis showed that all three are new-to-science species of snailfishes, a group known for their big heads, gelatinous bodies covered in loose skin, and narrow tails. Snailfishes belong to the family Liparidae and are named for the ability of some shallow-water species to attach to rocks using suction cups on their bellies and curl up like snails. Many snailfishes also inhabit the deep ocean, where they might use their suction discs to grip the seafloor or other animals like deep-sea crabs. The three newly described species were all found at the dark depths of 3,268-4,119 meters (10,722-13,514 feet) of the eastern Pacific Ocean. One of these species is the bumpy snailfish (Careproctus colliculi), with a pinkish skin, rounded head, big eyes and an “unusual bumpy skin texture.” It was found close to the seafloor less than 100 kilometers (60 miles) offshore from Monterey Bay, California. The other two species, both black, were collected on the same dive by a research submersible, nearly 300 km (190 mi) off the coast of Santa Barbara, California. One is the dark snailfish (Careproctus yanceyi), which has a rounded head and horizontal mouth. The authors write they named it to honor marine biologist…This article was originally published on Mongabay

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