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Scientists Discover World's Smallest Fish

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the there-is-no-fish-level dept.

sckienle writes "Yahoo news is reporting that scientists have found the world's smallest fish in Thailand. It wins the prize by 0.1 mm, being 7.9 mm in length. The fish has other unique qualifications: it lives in acidic water (ph 3), the males have fins that appear to be able to grasp objects, and have a head that is unprotected by a skeleton." From the article: "[Maurice Kottelat] said the record of finding the world's smallest fish was not important, preferring to focus on what he said was "scientifically significant." "What's important is finding a complete vertebrae in a body so small," he said."

6 of 199 comments (clear)

  1. Why so small? by onco_p53 · · Score: 2, Informative

    Their theory of its small size, is a lack of minerals in the habitat (Specifically Calcium I guess), that limits the avalible bone making material.

  2. What the hell does it look like? by killermookie · · Score: 5, Informative

    Hey Lookie! Another article with an actual PICTURE!

    A picture is worth 1000 words.

  3. Not from Thailand by Seanasy · · Score: 4, Informative
    ...is reporting that scientists have found the world's smallest fish in Thailand.

    The report comes from Thailand. The fish comes from Sumatra.

  4. Actually its in Indonesia not Thailand by trash+eighty · · Score: 4, Informative

    It was found in a Sumatran swamp, though the story was filed in Thailand. Obviously the submitter didn't get as far as reading the first sentence of TFA :p

  5. Re:It's (still) ALIVE! by 955301 · · Score: 2, Informative

    You should tell them to update it.

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  6. Re:grasping fins not cool enough? by hackstraw · · Score: 3, Informative

    Are grasping fins not scientifically significant enough to be included in what's important?

    Odds are, the grasping fins are to improve the likelihood of a male successfully producing offspring.

    Its common for external fertilizers like fish and frogs to have hooks or whatnot to stay above the eggs coming out of the female, and to keep another male from joining in on the fun.