New big-headed fish species discovered in Idaho and Montana rivers

Yahoo! News ^ | Laura Zuckerman - Reuters

[NormsRevenge]

(Reuters) - A tiny fish characterized by a disproportionately large head and previously unknown to scientists has been found in mountain rivers of Idaho and Montana in what biologists said on Thursday marked a rare discovery.

The new aquatic species is a type of freshwater sculpin, a class of fish that dwell at the bottom of cold, swiftly flowing streams throughout North America and are known for their oversized head and shoulder structure.

"The discovery of a new fish is something I never thought would happen in my career because it's very rare in the United States," said Michael Young, co-author of a scientific description of the find published in the latest edition of the peer-reviewed journal Zootaxa.

Scientists with the U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station in Montana first encountered the new species while conducting a genetic inventory of fish found in the upper Columbia River basin, said Young, also an agency fisheries biologist.

At first, researchers were not sure they had stumbled on a never-before-seen fish.

[NormsRevenge]

[aimhigh]

. . A tiny fish characterized by a disproportionately large head . .

It's called a liberal fish.

[NohSpinZone]

Only if it had a tiny brain in that giant noggin.

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

Crazy!

/s

[trisham]

It’s actually rather small.

[CommerceComet]

A tiny fish characterized by a disproportionately large head

Probably following the Barry Bonds workout program.

[eartrumpet]

Since they are living here and have been here all along, there shouldn’t be any need to make new regulations and protections and area closures for them, right?

[cripplecreek]

Fish got shoulders?

[Billthedrill]

Yer busted. Run for the hills!

[Uncle Miltie]

[gundog]

The Muddler of all Minnows.

[cripplecreek]

Near World Record Lake Trout caught through the ice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzsyuFJIBpY

43.75” long Lake Trout.

[JimRed]

A smaller freshwater version of the saltwater fish we locally call the Sea Robin. Winglike pectoral fins, spiny first dorsal fins and spiky spines on the head and gill covers. They (sculpins) are common in some areas, just extending their range a bit.

[DaveA37]

Almost looks like a “flying fish”.

[GraceG]

[ Near World Record Lake Trout caught through the ice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzsyuFJIBpY

43.75” long Lake Trout. ]

Don't go ice fishing with out the right tools...

[null and void]

ping...

[JimRed]

Almost looks like a “flying fish”.

The flying fish are slimmer, and the head is smaller than the body girth.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Big headed fish get pressed out of the earth shortly before a 9.0 earthquake.

[Slyfox]

[Dubh_Ghlase]

We used to call them Mud Puppies...