The bumpy snailfish is one of three new species of deep-sea snailfish described by MBARI collaborators at SUNY Geneseo.
MBARI’s cutting-edge underwater technology is unveiling the incredible creatures that inhabit the deep sea. In 2019, MBARI researchers encountered a unique pink snailfish swimming just above the seafloor. Recent studies by MBARI collaborators have confirmed that this individual belongs to a species previously unknown to science: the bumpy snailfish (Careproctus colliculi).
A team of researchers from the State University of New York at Geneseo (SUNY Geneseo), along with scientists from the University of Montana and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, published their findings in the scientific journal Ichthyology and Herpetology, detailing the bumpy snailfish along with two other snailfish species from the abyssal seafloor off the coast of California.
“MBARI is dedicated to making ocean exploration more accessible by sharing our data and technology with the scientific community. We appreciated the opportunity to collaborate with SUNY Geneseo researchers to deepen our understanding of deep-ocean life, especially since documenting this biodiversity is crucial for detecting changes in the environment,” stated MBARI Senior Scientist Steven Haddock, who led the expedition that discovered the bumpy snailfish.
Uncovering Secrets to Survival in Extreme Environments
Snailfishes belong to the Liparidae family. They typically feature large heads, jelly-like bodies wrapped in loose skin, and narrow tails. Many species have a disc on their bellies, which allows them to cling to the seafloor or hitch a ride on larger ocean animals like deep-sea crabs. Shallow-water snailfishes often attach themselves to rocks and seaweed, curling up like snails.
Scientists have identified over 400 different snailfish species globally. These fish inhabit a range of ocean environments, from shallow tide pools to the deepest trenches. In fact, a snailfish holds the record for being the deepest-dwelling fish.
SUNY Geneseo Associate Professor Mackenzie Gerringer focuses on deep-sea physiology and ecology, conducting extensive research on deep-sea snailfishes. Her work employs comparative techniques in taxonomy, functional morphology, and physiology to understand how these fishes are adapted to life under intense pressure, freezing temperatures, and perpetual darkness.
“The deep sea is home to an astonishing variety of organisms and a remarkable range of adaptations. Our finding of not just one, but three new snailfish species is a reminder of how much we have yet to uncover about life on Earth and highlights the importance of curiosity and exploration,” remarked Gerringer.
Chance Encounters Spark New Discoveries
The newly identified bumpy snailfish was observed by MBARI’s Biodiversity and Biooptics Team during an expedition on the institute’s retired flagship research vessel Western Flyer. Haddock’s team was exploring the edges of Monterey Canyon, approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles) off the coast of Central California, using MBARI’s remotely operated vehicle Doc Ricketts at a depth of 3,268 meters (10,722 feet) when they noticed this small snailfish swimming just above the abyssal seafloor.
The researchers collected this individual—a 9.2-centimeter (3.6-inch) adult female—for further lab analysis. With features that set it apart from other deep-sea snailfishes previously encountered, Haddock consulted Gerringer for a closer examination. MBARI often collaborates with taxonomists to review footage and specimens, leading to new discoveries.
New Additions to the Family
Gerringer’s team, along with researchers from the University of Montana and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa—including former MBARI postdoctoral fellow Jeff Drazen—analyzed the bumpy snailfish as part of a thorough investigation of three unusual snailfish specimens collected offshore of California. They used imaging, morphological, and genetic techniques to differentiate these snailfishes from other known species.
Using microscopy, micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) scanning, and precise measurements, the team gathered detailed information regarding the size, shape, and other physical traits of the three fishes, establishing their distinction from all known species. They also sequenced the DNA of the specimens to understand their evolutionary position within the Liparidae family. The examination confirmed that all three snailfishes were indeed new to science. The team has made their CT scan data publicly accessible via MorphoSource and genetic sequence data available through GenBank (PV300955-PV300957 and PV298545-PV298546).
In addition to the bumpy snailfish, the SUNY Geneseo team described the dark snailfish (Careproctus yanceyi) and the sleek snailfish (Paraliparis em).
The bumpy snailfish is recognized by its distinctive pink color, round head with large eyes, wide pectoral fins with elongated upper rays, and bumpy texture. The dark snailfish features an entirely black body with a rounded head and horizontal mouth. The sleek snailfish stands out with its long, black, laterally compressed body, lack of a suction disk, and sharply angled jaw.
Both the dark and sleek snailfishes were collected in 2019 by Drazen and colleagues during an expedition with the Alvin submersible at Station M, a research site managed by MBARI offshore of Central California, approximately 4,000 meters (13,100 feet) deep. Researchers and scientists worldwide have leveraged a unique 30-year dataset collected by advanced instruments at Station M to make significant discoveries about abyssal ecosystems and the connection between the ocean and climate. The species name of the sleek snailfish, Paraliparis em, pays tribute to this unique research site and the individuals and programs that have supported the Station M time series.
Haddock’s encounter represents the only confirmed sighting of the bumpy snailfish, so its full geographic range and depth are still unknown. However, a review of MBARI’s extensive video archive suggests that this species may have been spotted offshore of Oregon in 2009 but was misidentified as a similar species, the bigtail snailfish (Osteodiscus cascadiae).
Cataloging Life in the Depths
The deep sea is Earth’s largest living space, teeming with life and many species that remain unknown to science. With threats like climate change and mining endangering deep-sea communities, documenting life in this environment is more urgent than ever.
Over the past 38 years, MBARI researchers and collaborators have discovered more than 300 new species. We share video footage and specimens with taxonomy experts worldwide, giving them access to the deep sea. MBARI’s science and technology efforts aim to establish a baseline understanding of ocean health and deep-sea biodiversity, enabling better assessments of how human activities—such as climate change and pollution—impact marine ecosystems. Each discovery, from the captivating “mystery mollusc” to the carnivorous harp sponge, represents a new piece of the complex puzzle of life in the deep ocean.
Funding for this work was provided by the U.S. National Science Foundation Division of Ocean Sciences (OCE-1829612), the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, and the SUNY Geneseo Research Foundation.
Summary: New research has identified the bumpy snailfish (Careproctus colliculi) as a previously unknown species, alongside two other new snailfish species, thanks to the efforts of MBARI and SUNY Geneseo researchers. These findings underscore the rich biodiversity of the deep sea and highlight the importance of documenting life in the ocean, especially amidst growing environmental threats.
