Psychedelic fish bounces on ocean floor 'like a rubber ball'

[bananas]

Source: Telegraph (UK)

A psychedelic fish that bounces on the ocean floor like a rubber ball has been classified as a new species, a scientific journal reported.

The frogfish – which has a swirl of tan and peach zebra stripes that extend from its aqua eyes to its tail – was initially discovered by scuba diving instructors working for a tour operator a year ago in shallow waters off Ambon island in eastern Indonesia.

The operator contacted Ted Pietsch, lead author of a paper published in this month's edition of Copeia, the journal of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, who submitted DNA work identifying it as a new species.

The fish – which the University of Washington professor has named "psychedelia" – is a member of the antennariid genus, Histiophryne, and like other frogfish, has fins on both sides of its body that have evolved to be leg-like.

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Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/4861050/Psychedelic-fish-bounces-on-ocean-floor-like-a-rubber-ball.html

[keopeli]

1. A great story

It was actually posted here several days ago.

[Hissyspit]

2. Timothy Leary's dead.

No, no, he's been reincarnated as a fish.

[bananas]

4. He'll ride your aqautic plane

take you trips around the bay...

[DUlover2909]

3. Here's a link to the pic

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7914121.stm

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/26/psychedelic-frogfish-new-_n_170124.html

Video: http://www.livescience.com/animals/090224-frogfish.html

[regnaD kciN]

5. I think it's gonna be alright...

...yeah, the worst is over now,
the psychedelic fish is bouncing
like a red rubber ball.

[Solly Mack]

6. Too neat!!!!

[jmowreader]

7. The coloring is a bit reminiscent of a lionfish, as is its threat display

Check out http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008796010_weirdfish28m.html--this tells you a lot about the discovery--and about University of Washington fish biologist Ted Pietsch, who's apparently the leading authority on anglerfish.

It also says the University of Washington has held two preserved specimens of this fish since 1992. They've known about this fish for 17 years and didn't realize it was anything special...talk about a kick in the ass, eh?