Meet the ‘world’s cutest sea monster’: Scientists discover an adorable snailfish nearly 10,800ft underwater – as amazed viewers compare it to a Pokémon

When you go this deep, you’d expect any sign of life to be pretty terrifying.

So scientists were delighted to discover an adorable new species of snailfish thousands of feet below the ocean’s surface.

The large–eyed pink creature was first detected in 2019 by researchers who were exploring the seafloor off California^[1] using a remotely operated vehicle at a depth of 3,268m (10,722ft).

They came across this individual, an adult female 9.2cm (3.6 inches) long, happily swimming along amongst the crushing pressure, frigid cold and perpetual darkness.

New analysis now reveals this animal was a species previously unknown to science – and has been named the bumpy snailfish (Careproctus colliculi).

The snailfish family tend to have a large head, a jelly–like body covered in loose skin, and a narrow tail. Many have a disk on their belly that allows them to grip the seafloor or hitchhike on larger animals.

Fans of the snailfish described it as ‘adorable’ and ‘the cutest sea monster’ they’ve ever seen.

Commenting on a YouTube video^[2] of the new species, one even compared it to a ‘real life Pokémon’.

Analysis now reveals this animal was a species previously unknown to science – and has been named the bumpy snailfish

These creatures tend to have a large head, a jelly–like body covered in loose skin, and a narrow tail

Some fans said the new species looked like a Pokémon. Pictured: Whiscash, a water/ground-type Pokémon

‘The deep sea is home to an incredible diversity of organisms and a truly beautiful array of adaptations,’ Mackenzie Gerringer, associate professor at the State University of New York at Geneseo said.

‘Our discovery…is a reminder of how much we have yet to learn about life on Earth and of the power of curiosity and exploration.’

A team from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI^[3]) first made the discovery during an expedition to the outer reaches of Monterey Canyon, approximately 100km (62 miles) offshore of Central California.

They collected this individual but noticed it had features unlike other deep–sea snailfishes they had encountered.

Scientists used microscopes, micro–CT scans and careful measurements to determine it was different from any other known species.

They also analysed two other specimens and found they, too, were new to science – the dark snailfish and the sleek snailfish.

The bumpy snailfish has a distinctive pink colour, a round head with large eyes, wide pectoral fins with long uppermost rays, and a bumpy texture.

The dark snailfish has a fully black body with a rounded head and horizontal mouth.

The robotic submersible used in the expedition which first uncovered the new species of bumpy snailfish

Many deep–sea snailfishes are hard to identify from video alone. MBARI researchers have observed a snailfish that appears to be the newly described slender snailfish, but without collecting a specimen for closer analysis, they say they can’t be sure

The sleek snailfish is distinguished from other snailfishes by a long, black, laterally compressed body, absence of a suction disk, and prominently angled jaw.

This encounter is the only confirmed observation of the bumpy snailfish, so further detail on their full geographic distribution and depth range are unknown.

Steven Haddock, senior scientist at MBARI, led the research expedition that first  encountered the bumpy snailfish.

He said documenting deep–sea biodiversity is ‘critical to detecting any changes that may be occurring in this environment’.

Scientists have described more than 400 different species of snailfish worldwide.

These fish make their homes in a variety of ocean habitats, from shallow tide pools to deep–sea trenches.

They also hold the record for the deepest–dwelling fish.

The new species was described in the journal Ichthyology and Herpetology^[4].