A New Fish Species Really Uses Its Head
Posted by Shari Horowitz in Tropical Fish Hobbyist Blog on August 29, 2012 at 7:45 am
According to the journal Zootaxa, a new species of fish was recently discovered in Vietnam. Like all members of the genus Phallostethus, the newly discovered Phallostethus cuulong, has its reproductive organs located on its head just below the mouth. In fact, the genus name Phallostethus means “penis chest,” referring to the unusual placement of their reproductive organs.
These are small fish, less than an inch long, that are mostly translucent with a bright white blotch over the top of their head. They were collected from shallow areas with slow-flowing water in canals and rivers in Vietnam. They prefer to stay in heavily vegetated areas.
You can read the full study about this newly discovered little fish in Zootaxa.
Photograph courtesy of Magnolia Press.
Wow a new species of fish. I’d love reading topics on fish, I’m a fish lover. A nice selection of fish to check is here : pond fish