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A team of researchers at SUNY Geneseo has led the description and naming of three newly discovered species of deep-sea fishes from the eastern Pacific Ocean. The study was led by associate professor of biology Mackenzie Gerringer and features the work of six undergraduate co-authors who collected and analyzed data: Lydia Fregosi ’21, Emily McMahon ’23, Jessica Palmeri ’21, Samantha Shepard ’23, Sarah Suplicz ’23, and Brett Woodworth ’22. The co-author team also includes deep-sea biologists Jeffrey Drazen at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and Logan Peoples at the University of Montana.

The study, “,” is published as an open-access article in the journal Ichthyology & Herpetology. 

Two of the fishes were collected by the research submersible from a depth of 13,513 ft. at , a long-term, deep-sea research observatory about 130 miles off the coast of California. The third was collected in Monterey Canyon, California, by the remotely operated vehicle Doc Ricketts of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute () from 10,722 ft. below the surface. The discovery of these new species adds to understanding deep-sea communities at abyssal depths, which make up 50% of Earth’s surface. 

The fishes belong to the family Liparidae, or snailfishes, which have evolved to be incredibly successful in deep-sea habitats. The family includes the , which live at high pressures of more than 11,000 pounds per square inch. Despite their name, these new species do not look very snail-like. The family are named for shallow-living relatives that stick to rocks via a disk on their belly, curling up like a snail. The discovery of these three snailfishes, new to science, demonstrates how understudied the deep-sea ecosystems remain and the high biodiversity of the deep ocean, Earth’s largest habitat. 

To describe and name these fishes, the authors used microscopy, micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) scanning, and careful measurements to collect specific information about their size, shape, and other physical characteristics such as the number of fin rays and vertebrae each fish has. They also sequenced the DNA of the fish to compare them to other snailfishes and position the new species within an evolutionary context. “Taxonomy is essential for understanding the organisms with whom we share our planet and for studying and conserving the global biodiversity,” Gerringer stated.

"This study emphasizes the importance of both morphological and genetic identification for deep-living fishes,” said Woodworth. “The two species collected at Station M are cryptic—their external morphologies are similar to one another. Through both forms of identification, we were not only able to distinguish between the two species, but we could compare them to known species to gain better understanding of snailfish evolution in the deep sea."

One of the new species, Careproctus colliculi, was named for its unusual bumpy skin texture. The second species, Careproctus yanceyi, honors Professor Paul Yancey of Whitman College in Washington State, in recognition of his contributions to the field of deep-sea biology and his commitment to mentorship, teaching, and science communication. The authors named the third species Paraliparis em after Station M, where the fish was observed, acknowledging the many scientists and staff who contribute to time-series data. Long-term environmental monitoring stations, like Station M, are critical for understanding ecosystem function and changes over time, Gerringer noted.

“The deep oceans are home to an incredible diversity of organisms and a truly beautiful array of adaptations,” Gerringer added. “These three snailfishes are a reminder of how much we have yet to learn about life on Earth and of the power of curiosity and exploration.”

Funding was provided by the National Science Foundation Division of Ocean Sciences (OCE-1829612 to J. Drazen), the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, and the SUNY Geneseo Research Foundation.

Inquiries should be directed to Associate Professor Mackenzie Gerringer.