The Super Rare Mohawk Fish Is Not That Rare & And New Big-Armed Fly Named After Arnold Schwarzenegger

So, here I am, enjoying my typical lazy Saturday ritual. This includes a hot coffee in my bed, shitty facebook memes, reading  crypto-advice on 4chan and science news.. I don't feel like sharing memes or 4chan advice so I will just share some of the latest scientific discoveries from the animalia kingdom.

First, we have some great news about this cool little mohawk motherfucker:

 Thymichthys politus (credit)

 Commonly known as the Red Handfish and scientifically described as Thymichthys politus, up until very recently it was believed  that there was only one surviving population of 20-40 individuals south east of Tasmania, making it possibly the world's rarest fish! 

All this changed  last week when a team of divers from IMAS and the citizen science project Reef Life Survey announced that they have discovered another population in a place they don't plan to disclose anytime soon to protect the fish from human curiosity & stupidity. According to the press release, the site contains another 20-40 individuals and is some kilometres away from the other place known site.

Both sites cover a very small area, of about 50 to 20 meters, or approximately the size of two tennis courts. But why so small? That's easily explained by the fact that these fish suck at swimming! They actually use their modified fins to awkwardly walk on the seafloor!

The site was found after some rando reported seeing an individual. A mission  of seven divers then followed and after two days they struck gold:  

 “We were diving for approximately three and a half hours and at about the two hour mark we were all looking at each other thinking this is not looking promising. My dive partner went to tell the other divers that we were going to start heading in and I was half-heartedly flicking algae around when, lo and behold, I found a red handfish.  Finding a new population that is definitely distinct from the existing one is very exciting.  It means there’s potentially a bigger gene pool and also that there are potentially other populations out there that we’re yet to find, so it’s very exciting indeed.” said Antonia Cooper,  IMAS Technical Officer.

Here's a video with more info about the discovery and some cool footage of the creature:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=19&v=r6MEM3b7Uqc

Overall, this is just a huge discovery. First, it gives great hopes that the species, which has continuously declined since its discovery, might actually manage to survive. And second, it gives scientists the chance to learn more and understand it better. Researchers seem to have already learnt a couple of new things:

 “Finding this second population is a huge relief as it effectively doubles how many we think are left on the planet. We’ve already learned a lot from finding this second population because their habitat isn’t identical to that of the first population, so we can take some heart from knowing Red Handfish are not as critically dependent on that particular set of local conditions.” said IMAS scientist Dr Rick Stuart-Smith

And now let's move on to the second subject of the day:

New Big-Armed Fly Named After Arnold Schwarzenegger

A few days back researchers announced a new species of fly with some really cool features. To start, the species is the new record holder for world's smallest fly, with a body length of only 0.395 mm! 

Photomicrograph of a female Megapropodiphora arnoldi (credit)

But what's more interesting  are the bulging forelegs these tiny flies feature, which won them the scientific name Megapropodiphora arnoldi, after the famous bodybuilder and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger. As for the mid- and hind legs, they are reduced to small, possibly vestigial remnants.  (And to shamelessly self-advertise a bit, make sure to check this old post of mine featuring Agra schwarzeneggeri another animal named after him!)

Here's what  entomologist Brian Brown who named the creature said about his reasoning:

 "As soon as I saw those bulging legs, I knew I had to name this one after Arnold. Not only is he a major cultural icon and an important person in the political realm, his autobiography gave me some hope that I could improve my body as a skinny teenager."  

A fun fact is that was also Brown, who had previously described the last record-holder for world's smallest fly at 0.400.

At the moment, the species is only known from a single specimen from a site near Manaus, Brazil. There was also another specimen, possibly male that got destroyed during processing. We really don't know much yet about the species as it hasn't really been observed in the wild. Although technically a fly it doesn't...fly as the wings are reduced to tiny stubs.   

According to Brown's paper it's probably a parasitoid of ants or termites as indicated by its pointed, sharp ovipositor. 

So that's pretty much all I wanted to talk today. Don't forget to visit the various links in the post to learn more about the two creatures featured today!

Time to close.. Oh yeah, here's a quick update on my greenhouse post 10 days ago... My babies have started to come out :D Unfortunately, I will have to thin and kill some out, Not enough space for all you guys! :(

Steem On!