Three new species of fish have been found on the ocean floor

Scientists from the State University of New York at Geneseo (SUNY Geneseo), in collaboration with scientists from the University of Montana and the University of Hawaii at Manoa, have described three new species of deep-sea liparis fish. One of them, the "lumpy liparis" (Careproctus colliculi), was recorded in 2019 by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute's (MBARI) Doc Ricketts remote underwater vehicle.

During an expedition in the Monterey Submarine Canyon area, 100 kilometres off the California coast, the Doc Ricketts vehicle recorded the unusual pink fish at a depth of more than 3,200 metres. The specimen - an adult female 9.2 cm long - was taken to the laboratory for further study. Scientists noted its distinctive features: rounded head with large eyes, long pectoral fin rays and a specific bumpy skin structure. CT scans were used to examine the skeleton and internal organs, confirming the uniqueness of the species.

Liparids belong to the family Liparidae. They have a soft body covered with loose skin and a characteristic sucking disc, which they use to cling to the seabed or other animals. These fish are able to survive extreme pressure, low temperatures and complete absence of light. In all, more than 400 species of Liparis have been described, from tidal zones to the deepest trenches.

Associate Professor Mackenzie Gerringer says the research aims to understand the adaptations that allow these creatures to exist in near-impossible conditions, "The discovery of three new species reminds us how little we know about life on Earth and the power of scientific curiosity."

In addition to the gnarled liparis, two other new species have been described:

• Black Liparis (Careproctus yanceyi) - with an all-black body, rounded head and horizontal mouth;
• Slender Liparis (Paraliparis em) - with a long, flattened body without a sucker disc and sharply protruding lower jaw.

The two species were discovered back in 2019 at a depth of about 4,000 metres during another expedition near the Station M research station, which MBARI uses for long-term observations of deep-sea ecosystems.

Scientists speculate that the gnarled liparis may have been previously mistaken for another species off the Oregon coast back in 2009. However, its full distribution and deepwater range remain unknown.

Genetic data from the new species has already been made publicly available on GenBank and CT scans have been made available on MorphoSource, allowing other researchers to continue working on these findings.