Warm-Blooded Fish Discovered

The first known endothermic fish (opah, or moonfish) has been discovered that lives at depths of 250 feet in the Pacific Ocean, using specialized gills to maintain a warm body temperature as an active predator.

New Seadragon Species Found

Scientists have identified a previously unknown third distinct species of the exotic seadragon, named the ruby seadragon (Phyllopteryx dewysea) after its unusual bright red coloration, while analyzing DNA from tissue samples believed to be from the two known species, the leafy and common seadragons.

Bird-Eating Fish

Long suspected but never proven until now, evidence has been captured on video of the freshwater African tigerfish (Hydrocynus vittatus) hunting, catching and eating low-flying barn swallows in a South African lake in Mapungubwe National Park.

Salmon Use Magnetic Field

A new study has shown that juvenile salmon imprint on the signature of the magnetic field present in the river of their birth and seek out this same unique signature during their spawning migration, the first research to document an animal's ability to learn to navigate using the Earth's magnetic field.

Bendable Teeth Discovered

Researchers have found the teeth of the suckermouth catfish (Loricariidae) have a section containing more collagen and significantly less calcium, magnesium and phosphate than the rest of the tooth, permitting the tooth to bend and flex as opposed to being the hardest material in their bodies.

Shark Species More Diverse

Researchers studying the genetic makeup of thousands of sharks and ray specimens have discovered scores of potentially new or overlooked species that could lead to a reorganization of the family tree of these animals.

Shark Skin Provides Thrust

Researchers have found that the flexible skin of a shark, covered in sharp tooth-like scales called denticles, alters the structure of the fluid flow near the surface of the skin in a way that not only reduces drag but actually enhances thrust for the animal's motion.

First Hybrid Shark Found

Scientists have discovered the first hybrid shark species off the coast of Australia, the result of interspecies mating between Australian black-tip and common black-tip sharks, an adaptation possibly driven by changing sea temperatures.

Piranhas Use Sound

Using underwater microphones, scientists have discovered piranhas use at least three distinct sounds to communicate when confronting one another by vibrating their swim bladders using high-speed muscles.

New Species Found in Market

A species of shark new to science (Squalus formosus) was recently discovered accidentally in the Tashi Fish Market in Taiwan, most likely caught in nets prepared for other commercial fish.

Tool Use in Fish

A study of blackspot tuskfish off the coast of Australia has documented the fish bashing a cockle against a rock to get at the fleshy bits inside, the first evidence of tool use among fish in the wild.

Sawfish Has Sixth Sense

New experiments suggest the long, tooth-lined snout of a sawfish can detect electric fields of passing prey, acting as an antenna for a "sixth sense" when visibility is limited in dark or murky waters.

Long-Lived Coelacanths

A multi-decade study of the deep-sea dwelling coelacanth estimates a 4.4% turnover in population each year, suggesting these fish may be extremely long-lived with lifespans of a century or more.

Stingless Stingrays Discovered

Long sold commercially as pets, scientists have gathered enough specimens to identify two new species of freshwater stingless stingrays (Heliotrygon rosai and H. gomesi) native to the Amazon and distinct enough to justify creating a whole new genus.

New Handfish Species

With only four specimens having ever been found in the waters off of Tansmania, the pink handfish has been formally identified as a new and distinct species of the handfish family, creatures who use their fins to walk along the ocean floor.

Fish See Ultraviolet Patterns

Researchers have found that the damselfish (Pomacentrus amboinensis and P. moluccensis) discriminate each other through distinctly different ultraviolet (UV) patterns around the eyes and face, suggesting that some species may communicate using the UV part of the spectrum.

Poisonous Catfish Catalogued

A recent study reveals that over 1600 species of catfish are possibly venomous with neurotoxic and hemolytic venom delivered through sharp, bony spikes along the edges of dorsal and pectoral fins.

Hammerhead Shark Eyesight

The mystery of the shape of a hammerhead shark's head has been explained in a study that demonstrates not only superior binocular vision with an increase in head width but also nearly 360° vision in the vertical plane.

New Ghostshark Species

A new species of chimaera, or Eastern Pacific black ghostshark (Hydrolagus melanophasma), an ancient and strange fish species distantly related to sharks, has been discovered off the coast of Southern California and Baja California, Mexico.

Miniature Fish with Fangs of Bone

A tiny fish has been discovered in Burmese waters with prominent fangs made of bone, similar to tusks in larger animals.