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Scientists Discover World's Smallest Fish
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."
Babel fish?
"Yeah, it's small. But you should have seen the one that got away!"
A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
""It's tiny, it lives in acid and it has these bizarre grasping fins. "
If science can find a fish living in acid, then the possibility of life on other planets seems more real.
This has been another valuable and informative opinion from:
Catahoula!
Small fish or small vertebrate, whichever the excitement is about, it's a Carp relative, so don't release any of these in the local resevoir or you'll have 1.0e06 of them.
A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
Fishy Fishy Fishy.. Has anyone seen the fish?? Where did the fishy go ?
I have mod points and I am not afraid to use them.
Looks like the EPA might have to update their pH scale.
I am MuchTall
It wins the prize by..
That's funny, my fish are way smaller than that. Good at swimming upstream too.
Finally a use for my tiny fishing pole!
They're used for archiving documents.
Proverbs 21:19
Are we going to see a story on the worlds smallest piece of sushi made from this fish tomarow?
"[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."
Are grasping fins not scientifically significant enough to be included in what's important? This guy sounds like a true nerd.
How does it taste?
That's our life, the big wheel of shit. - The Fat Man, Blue Tango Salvage
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.
I lived in acid for about 6 years in the 90s
Now no skull, that's cool!
But I see smaller fish every day. The baby cichlids I'm raising are as small as 2 mm. It's funny watching them act just like adults. Defending turf from each other, looking for food, running from 200 mm adults (different species), and so on. I can't help but think how such complex actions are being controlled by so few neurons.
The world is made by those who show up for the job.
From TFA "...exceptionally large muscles that may be used to grasp the females during copulation..."
No wonder I scare the ladies away!
"It's a tarp!" -- Dyslexic Admiral Ackbar
Scientists have discovered the world's smallest fish on record in an acidic peat swamp in Indonesia
Ironically, all his friends just like to call him 'Shrimp'
'with a see-through body and a head that is unprotected by a skeleton'
Which one are you referring to, Paris Hilton or Nicole Richie?
It's tiny, it lives in acid and it has these bizarre grasping fins.
Are you sure you weren't talking about your last 'Phish' concert?
"the males have enlarged pelvic fins and exceptionally large muscles that may be used to grasp the females during copulation"
Does size really matter?
"You don't wake up in the morning and think today we will find the smallest fish in the world,"
Well I guess you haven't been fishing much at my local pond lately.
And finally...
You can never tell any 'fish stories' because this is always going to be the 'one that got away.'
He who knows best knows how little he knows. - Thomas Jefferson
...it could be one of those that swims up your organic tube and when snug as a bug.... POOF! Blows up and stays in there.
(/me watches as half the slashdotters in here crosses legs)
What this world is coming to - is for you and me to decide.
I have that exact same thought when hearing politicians speak.
Scientists are now seeking a miniature species of potatoes so they can make the world's smallest batch of fish 'n chips.
I suppose they could call it microfiche and microchips...
"What's important is finding a complete vertebrae in a body so small,"
How can it have a complete skeleton if it doesn't have a skull? I always feel somewhat incomplete without mine.
Well, yeah, but only if your local resivoir is made of orange juice.
<xml><I><am><so><damn>Web 2.0</damn></so></am></I></xml>
When I read the summary, I thought the poster had mis-typed the quote because vertebrae is a plural. When I RTFA'd, I found that the poster was right. Either that's what was said, or the reporter's the one making the mistake.
Good, inexpensive web hosting
I can't help but think how such complex actions are being controlled by so few neurons.
I wonder the same thing about my coworkers every day...
Developers: We can use your help.
Hey Lookie! Another article with an actual PICTURE!
A picture is worth 1000 words.
...welcome our new acid-swallowing, skeleton-challeneged, bitch-slappin' miniature overlords!
The fish featured in this slashdot article was 7 mm, this one says their fish is 7.9 mm....
Monstar L
I vote: (Tim) Leary Fish.
...or was it just found in a really big pond?
"[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."
Whats really scientifically interesting is the fact that if you put it in your ear, you can instantly understand any language spoken.
To fit in my ear canal and swim in a bit.
Babelfish, anyone?
"Trolls they were, but filled with the evil will of their master: a fell race..." -- J.R.R. Tolkien on Olog-hai
The report comes from Thailand. The fish comes from Sumatra.
How are we supposed to cook it?
Oh.
Not every argument requires reduction to absurdity.
I hope we'll have time to find out more about them before their habitat disappears completely.
Wow. The obliteration of an entire species spoken about so matter-of-factly that it scares the hell out of me.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
They won't serve them at a Sushi bar, but you might be able to get one at an h-bar.
Ok, that was bad. Hope I don't have to walk the plank.
The Candiru is the fish that swims up your pee-pee hole and lodges itself there! OUCH! That fish is small........
"Yeah, it's small. But we _couldn't_ have seen the one that got away!"
Actually, bad as it is, I was afraid no one would get it. Who microfiches anything these days?
Proverbs 21:19
I'm sure the Japanese will figure out a way to get us gaijin to pay $400/oz for sushi.
If you cast a net with a 7.9mm mesh then your concept of fish will only include things that are 7.9mm or larger.
Scientists Hold World's Smallest Fish Fry
I got it and thought it was the funniest comment I've read on /. in the last few days - and I've been stuck at home. More of the same, please :)
The fish were found in Indonesia, not Thailand. Sumatra is in Indonesia. I guess the submiter missed the first line of the article.
... can it be outfitted with a freakin' laser on its head?
'Q' is for Dr. Tran
It worries me that these could become extinct. It would be a true shame if such a miracle were to perish permanently. The world is a continually interesting place.
f ish-jokes]
[must-resist-small-fish-jokes][must-resist-small-
What the heck: Now [your brand of fast food restaurant] can cut costs by making their fish sandwiches with even less content!
A Passionate Independent Musician
Well, thats only because they overfiched the microfisheries...
Get a life, not a lifestyle. - Hikem Bey
How well would our new tiniest-fish-in-the-world friend do in a battle to the death with a Sea-Monkey ?
"This is all the more serious because the habitat of this fish is disappearing very fast, and the fate of the species is now in doubt."
Nothing like having your fate in doubt the moment you're discovered!
A picture is worth 1000 words. - I think in this case a 1000 words maybe more visible.
You can't handle the truth.
I used to microfiche, but my eyes aren't good enough, any more. Baiting those tiny little hooks is a b*tch.
Cue the "since this is Slashdot, you have to be a masterbaiter..." jokes.
Fry a couple hundred of those bad boys up and lets see how they taste with some tartar sauce.
Quit carping - I thought it was pretty good.
...carrier dead.....
Anyone notice it says Bangkok, Thailand and then says that the fish was discovered in Indonesia? So erm where the hell was the fish actually discovered?
http://www.wwf.org.uk/news/n_0000001664.asp
* * * * * *
"I don't know...must be something in the water."
--Achaan Buddhadasa
Would that be a babel fish?
Hey Lookie! Another article with an actual PICTURE!
The second picture of the fish shows that it is partially transparent.
So not only has it evolved and survived because it is so small, but also because it is almost invisible.
He who knows best knows how little he knows. - Thomas Jefferson
What's important is finding a complete vertebrae in a body so small," he said.
Obviously, what is NOT important is plurality-matching...
I lived on acid for 9 years in the 60's!
How much is your data worth? Back it up now.
Tomorrow's headline: world's smallest fish found to be a hoax
Do you think the biologist who discovered the "second smallest" fish is pissed now?
Ok, I'm going to be persnickity here and point out that the fish actually lives on the island of SUMATRA in Indonesia. BBC is also running the article. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4645708 .stm)
Swisssushi - When the going gets tough, get some tenderizer
"When he's under water, does he get wet or does the water get him instead?" They Might Be Giants
The Power to Serve
On a different world, under different atmospheric pressure, light spectrum and intensity and different chemical make-up of environment you could find life.
This is a common misconception, advocated by old Star Trek episodes and the like.
First, the activation energy required for molecular formation corresponds to a temperature of ~100 to ~1000 K. Any less and individual atoms can't get over the hump, any more and they come apart. Of course there are some reactions with low or no activation energy, and these often occur in interstellar space given the proper catalyst, and pressure plays a large role as planets form. But evidence increasingly shows that many of the molecules we find in ourselves show up in outer space, so under most conditions temperatures will have to be roughly in that range for the proper (read: any) molecules to form.
Second, the light spectrum we have is pretty handy, too. Ultra-violet rays aren't only dangerous to humans. A single UV photon, in fact, can knock a hydrogen molecule apart.
Third, while Si does have a lot of the chemical properties C uses to create the hydrocarbons we're all based on, it's also very rare in comparison. There's a reason we're C-based. The rate of Si-formation (much less Si-including molecular formation) is extraordinarily low. Consult any list of interstellar molecules for confirmation.
So you can laugh all you want to...
...or does it come with micro-chips?
Sorry....
AskOxford says:
tomorrow adverb and noun
Spell tomorrow with a single m and a double r.
Tip: tomorrow morning, rise refreshed.
Sorry this mnemonic doesn't cover your a.
Don't worry, I hate me too.
"Empathise with stupidity, and you're halfway to thinking like an idiot." - Iain M. Banks
But does it run Linux?
Left out of the article:
Scientists know that it is indeed the world's smallest fish, and no smaller one could possibly exist, because "Look at it! It's REALLY small! Smaller even than the now not-quite-smallest fish! That's tiny!"
-- I prefer the term "karma escort."
Well, Chris Squire's gonna have to get busy and write a new song about the smallest known fish.
I can imagine these guys bragging to their coworkers..
"...and we caught a fish THIS big!!"