new Snailfish Species Discovered in Deep Pacific, Highlighting Ocean’s Mysteries
MONTEREY BAY, CA – September 9, 2025 – In a testament to the vast unknowns of the deep sea, researchers have announced the finding of three new species of snailfish inhabiting the waters off the coast of Central California. The findings, published this week, underscore how much remains to be learned about life on Earth, even in areas previously explored.
The snailfish, belonging to the family Liparidae, are typically small, tadpole-shaped creatures with large, jelly-like heads. Approximately 400 species are currently known, and they possess a unique disk on their belly allowing them to adhere to the seafloor or ”hitchhike on larger animals,” according to the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI).
“Our discovery of not one, but three, new species of snailfishes is a reminder of how much we have yet to learn about life on Earth and of the power of curiosity and exploration,” said Mackenzie Gerringer, study lead author and a marine scientist at SUNY Geneseo, in a statement released by MBARI.
The three new species were initially observed during two expeditions in 2019 utilizing MBARI’s underwater robot explorer. The “bumpy snailfish” (Careproctus colliculi) was found swimming at a depth of 10,722 feet (3,268 meters), while the “dark snailfish” (Careproctus yanceyi) was observed even deeper, at approximately 13,451 feet (4,100 meters). A third, the “sleek snailfish” (Paraliparis in), also inhabits these depths.
Scientists were able to carefully retrieve one specimen of each species for laboratory analysis, where CT scans were conducted to study their physical characteristics. The bumpy snailfish is described as pink and round with a bumpy exterior. The dark snailfish is fully black with a round head and horizontal mouth. The sleek snailfish differs with its long,”laterally compressed body” and angled jaw.
“They come in beautiful colors,” noted Johanna Weston, an ecologist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution who was not involved in the study, in an interview with the New York Times. “They also have a lovely little smile on their face.”
Currently, researchers believe the bumpy snailfish may be the rarest of the three, as this discovery represents the only confirmed observation of the species to date. Further expeditions are planned to determine the geographic distribution and population sizes of all three new species. Snailfish are known for adapting to diverse environments; shallow-water species curl against rocks or seaweed, while some deep-sea varieties, like one currently holding the record, are the deepest-dwelling fish known to science.