There is still so much we don’t know about the ocean and the creatures who live there. Luckily, the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) has underwater technology that has proven to be useful in deep-sea explorations. In fact, with the use of this technology, a brand-new species of fish has been found in the depths of Monterey Canyon! This strange-looking fish was found at nearly 10,800 feet deep. If you know anything about the ocean, you know that the deeper you dive, the stranger the creatures who live there get. This newest fish species, described as a bumpy snailfish, certainly meets that expectation. That said, as odd as it looks, it’s also pretty darn cute. Watch the video below to decide how you feel about the little guy… @mbari_news Meet the newest (and cutest) addition to the snailfish family ⁠ ⁠ MBARI collaborators at SUNY Geneseo, with scientists from the University of Montana and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, have described three new deep-sea snailfishes, including one first discovered using MBARI’s remotely operated vehicle Doc Ricketts. ⁠ ⁠ Snailfishes make their homes in a variety of ocean habitats—from shallow tide pools to deep-sea trenches. The newly described bumpy snailfish (Careproctus colliculi), observed in the depths of Monterey Canyon nearly 3,300 meters (10,800 feet) underwater, has a distinctive pink color and a bumpy texture. ⁠ ⁠ MBARI’s technology is helping researchers document deep-sea biodiversity, and our collaborations with expert taxonomists around the world are helping to advance the discovery of life in the largest living space on Earth. What we’ve learned can help resource managers and policymakers make informed decisions about the future of the ocean to safeguard marine life and environments from threats like climate change and mining. #MBARI #DeepSea #DeepOcean #wakeupbaenewspeciesjustdropped ♬ Little Things – Adrián Berenguer Like many others, you’re probably wondering why on Earth a fish would also be referred to as a snail. Turns out, just looking at the fish won’t necessarily help you understand. According to MBARI, the snailfish group gets its name because they have “soft, slimy, gelatinous bodies that lack scales and are reminiscent of a snail without its shell.” New Snail-Like Fish Species Takes Social Media by Storm with Its Odd Yet Cute Appearance This new species of fish is far from alone. There are over 400 known snailfish species in the world! They’re able to use their jelly-like bellies to hold tight to the seafloor. Plus, they can even curl up like snails when in shallow water. So, sure, these guys are a bit odd. But the consensus online is that they’re just as adorable, too! “I really thought this was AI at first, but a Google search tells me this is real. And that makes me happy,” someone shared in reply to this new fish discovery. Other commenters added, “Tell it I say pspsps or whatever that translates to in fish” and “Can’t wait for her to be added to the Animal Crossing ichthyology.” You can find the source of this story’s featured image here! The post Scientists Discover Bizarre (But Somehow Adorable) New Species Of Fish appeared first on InspireMore.