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Scientists have discovered a new species of neon colored fish.
Researchers from the California Academy of Sciences made the discovery near a cluster of rocky islands known as St Paul’s Rocks, roughly 600 miles off the coast of Brazil.
They named the species Tosanoides Aphrodite, after the Greek goddess of love and beauty.
Appearance
As a member of the genus Tosanoides – which consists of a number of similar species – the fish is the first of its type found in the Atlantic Ocean.
Male fish from the species are covered in bright yellow and pink stripes, while female fish are a red-orange color.
They measure roughly 5-8 centimeters in total length.
Speaking with Newsweek, California Academy of Sciences’ Luiz Rocha said: “I am always thrilled when we find new species, but this one was so spectacular and unexpected that we were almost euphoric the whole dive.”
Protecting the fish
Rocha added: “In a time of global crisis for coral reefs, learning more about unexplored reef habitats and their colorful residents is critical to our understanding of how to protect them.”
However, scientists from the academy – which also consists of an aquarium – captured seven of the fish from the wild, before performing tests on their bodies and examining them under a microscope.
Plant Based News reached out to the academy for details on what happened to the animals, but has not received a response.
