Pink-faced fish discovered in the deep waters of California

Marine researchers have just announced the discovery of three new snailfish species in the deep waters off the coast of California, USA. Among them, a pink specimen stood out for its curious and delicate appearance.

The findings were published in the scientific journal Ichthyology and Herpetology by a team led by Dr. Mackenzie Zehringer, from the State University of New York. The study details the analysis of three individuals collected during expeditions using submersibles from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI).

The pink fish was found at around 3,170 meters deep in the Monterey Canyon. It has irregular skin, large round eyes, and a mouth that resembles a smile. In the same period, the team also identified two other previously unknown species: one jet-black and another without suckers.

🔎 Facts about the group
Snailfish are known for inhabiting extreme environments — from shallow coastal pools to abyssal zones such as the Mariana Trench, at nearly 8,000 meters deep. So far, more than 450 species have been recorded, but experts believe there are still many more waiting to be described.

To confirm the discovery, scientists conducted detailed tests such as micro-CT scans, microscopy, and DNA sequencing. This confirmed they were indeed new species. The pink fish was named Careproctus colliculi (“irregular”), the black one Careproctus yanceyi (“dark”), and the suckerless species Paraliparis en (“smooth”).

🌊 Why does this matter?
According to Dr. Zehringer, the discovery helps us understand how shallow-water species differ from their deep-sea relatives. She also highlighted the importance of the finding: “Discovering two unknown species in the same place, in one of the world’s most studied deep-sea regions, shows how much we still have to learn about our planet’s oceans.”

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