‘Large’ creature with ‘intense yellow’ fin found deep in the Amazon. See new species

Moira Ritter
·1 min read
15

While on an expedition to an unexplored river deep in the Amazon, scientists spotted a large and brightly colored creature just beneath a waterfall.

It was a new species of fish. Now, researchers have identified the creature as Moenkhausia guaruba, according to a study published Aug. 17 in Zootaxa.

The creature is the newest species of Moenkhausia — a robust fish characterized by teeth in two rows, a lateral line organ to detect movement and small scales on their tails, the study said. It was discovered in the rio Braço Norte.

Scientists described Moenkhausia guaruba as a silvery fish with a golden to olive-green hue. The creature is darker on its back, sides and head, while its snout and jaws are a lighter yellow, orange color. A bright silver greenish stripe spans the fish’s body.

Moenkhausia guaruba was named after the Golden Parakeet for its yellow fins, scientists said.
Moenkhausia guaruba was named after the Golden Parakeet for its yellow fins, scientists said.

The creature was named for its “intense yellow” fins, researchers said. “Guaruba” references another species — Guaruba guarouba, also know as the Golden Parakeet, which is a golden-yellow parrot native to Brazil’s Amazon.

Experts said one of the creature’s “most remarkable characteristics” is its “great size.”

Of the specimens that scientists collected, more than 50% were between about 2.7 inches and 3.3 inches. The longest creature found was nearly 3.8 inches long, the study said. The species is one of the largest types of Moenkhausia ever recorded.

The rio Braço Norte is in central Brazil in the Pará state.

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