MARIANA SNAILFISH

Pseudoliparis swirei

The Mariana Snailfish (also called Swire’s Snailfish after Herbert Swire*) is a species of snailfish found in the Hadal zone of the Mariana Trench. Not much about this fish is known, however, scientists have captured and dissected specimens. The fish is about a foot (0.3 M) long and is covered in a scaleless, translucent skin. The internal organs are even visible. Unlike most fish the snailfish has a long tailfin that stretches along its body and a set of wing like fins near its head. Dissected specimens have shown that the eggs of this species are 1 Cm wide, extremely large for most fish of this size.

The species was discovered in 2014 by the German research vessel “Falkor” after being caught by a baited net. The species is the only one confirmed to live deeper than 26,500 Ft (8833 M) below the surface. At this level, the fish has to withstand 96,000 Tons of water pressure. Another species (Abyssobrotula galatheae) was claimed to have been recovered from a depth of 27,000 Ft (9137 M.) However, it was caught with a non closing net, making way for the suggestion that it may have been captured from a higher level.

*Herbert Swire was a sub-lieutenant aboard the HMS Challenger, a ship made famous for discovering the Mariana Trench.