Ghost fish with vampire-like teeth

Ghost fish, also called vampire fish, are found in northern Myanmar and are estimated to have thrived on the earth for nearly 100 million years. It is nicknamed the "vampire fish" because of its sharp teeth and resemblance to the vampires in European legends. This fish is about 17 mm long and belongs to the Cypriniformes family. Dr. Ralf Britz, a zoologist at the Natural Science Museum in London, was delighted with the discovery. He said: "This fish is the most amazing vertebrate discovered in more than 10 years."

Restored picture of ghost fish (painted by Brian Choo, Museum of Victoria, Australia)

Scientists discovered a mysterious "ghost fish" at 8,200 feet (about 2,500 meters) in the Mariana Trench, the world's deepest trench. Measurements from the seafloor indicate the fish is about 0.3 feet (about 10 centimeters) long.

The deep sea is far away from humans and is home to many strange and mysterious creatures. The "ghost fish" discovered by scientists in the Mariana Trench is one of them. It looks like an alien creature. This is the first time humans have seen a living turtle, and it also proves that the turtle is indeed a deep-sea animal, which was controversial in the past.

1. The discovery of ghost fish

According to the British "Daily Mail" report, British zoologists said they discovered a small fish with "vampire-like teeth" in a river in Kachin State in northern Myanmar. Its scientific name is "Danionella dracula" ( The name of a vampire in Western legend), which looks terrifying. This fish is about 17 mm long and belongs to the Cypriniformes family.

It is reported that this "vampire fish" was discovered in April 2007, but it was not officially named as a new fish species until later. Dr. Ralf Britz, a zoologist at the Natural History Museum in London, said: "This fish is one of the most extraordinary vertebrates discovered in the past few decades. Its teeth are indeed surprising, because none of the other 3,700 species in the Cyprinidae family have teeth in their mouths. In fact, they lost their teeth during the early Eocene epoch, about 50 million years ago. However, Danionella dracula evolved its own fangs, which grew out of its jaws. "

Reassuringly, although it looks ferocious, these teeth are not used for eating, so there is no need to worry about this fish sucking blood. But despite the fish's surprisingly small size, Danionella dracula is not the world's smallest fish - that title belongs to Paedocypris progenetica, which is only about 7.6 millimeters long.

Dr. Ralf Britz, a zoologist at the Natural Science Museum in London, was delighted with the discovery. He said: "This fish is the most amazing vertebrate discovered in more than 10 years." He said, "The teeth of the 'Vampire Fish' are the most exciting thing because more than 3,700 other members of the family Cyprinidae have no teeth, and their teeth disappeared as early as 50 million years ago."

2. Ghost fish described by experts

They are not big, and they are not beautiful, but this little fish whose scientific name is "Danionella dracula" is very strange. This small fish with a body length of only 1.7 cm has vampire-like fangs on its upper and lower jaws. It is the only fish with fangs among more than 3,700 species of cypriniform fish. The male's large teeth are in This will come in handy during territorial fights. Ralf Britz, a fish expert at the National History Museum in London, said: "The reason why this discovery is so surprising is that cypriniform fishes evolved and disappeared 50 million years ago. Tooth structure." Why did this small fish still retain its tooth structure during its evolution? Further analysis by the scientists concluded that the vampire tooth-like structures were not teeth, but rather a type of bone, or more accurately a byproduct of the jawbone, that pierced the skin and grew into curved spikes. structure. Its lower jaw can open at a larger angle, 45-60 degrees to the main trunk of the body.

By comparing the vampire fish's DNA with that of zebrafish and cypriniform fish, Breitz estimated that this bony protrusion gradually formed after cypriniform fish evolved and lost their teeth 30 million years ago. Vampire fish do not use this peculiar tooth for hunting. In terms of body structure, males also have larger pelvic fins and anus, and the reproductive organs are located between the fins.

animal tags： fish cypriniformes