WHAT IS IT? 'Faceless' fish rediscovered in Australia after a century
A MYSTERIOUS 'faceless' deep-sea fish has been rediscovered by scientists in a sea expedition off Australia's east coast.
Unusual 'faceless' fish rediscovered by scientists in Australia
The 16-inch fish was found 4km below sea level over the weekend.
Scientists from Museums Victoria and the Australian government's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) believe it is the same type as a specimen caught in the 1870s.
A 'faceless' fish last seen in the 1870s has been rediscovered off the coast of Australia
The 16-inch fish was found 4km below sea level over the weekend
Dr Tim O'Hara, the chief scientist and expedition leader, said it was the first time the fish had been seen in waters off Australia since 1873.
He said: “This little fish looks amazing because the mouth is actually situated at the bottom of the animal so, when you look side-on, you can’t see any eyes, you can’t see any nose or gills or mouth.
This little fish looks amazing because the mouth is actually situated at the bottom of the animal
“It looks like two rear-ends on a fish, really.”
Di Bray, from Museums Victoria, told ABC news: "It is this fish with nostrils and a mouth and no face.
"Apparently, it's got eyes way under the surface but really you can't see any eyes."
The fish was one of many species hauled up from the deep waters off Australia
The expedition of marine reserves stretching from northern Tasmania to central Queensland began on May 15.
During the voyage, the scientists have found a range of unusual creatures including bright red spiky rock crabs, bioluminescent sea stars and gigantic sea spiders.
Dr O'Hara said: “The experts tell me that about a third of all specimens coming on board are new totally new to science.
“They aren’t all as spectacular as the faceless fish but there’s a lot of sea fleas and worms and crabs and other things that are totally new and no one has seen them ever before.”