Strange New Fish May See Like Humans
April 3, 2008 3:35 AM   Subscribe

A fish with forward facing eyes has been discovered in Indonesia.

University of Washington fish expert Ted Pietsch thinks that the fish is probably a member of a previously undiscovered family of lure-less anglerfish.
posted by chuckdarwin (46 comments total) 5 users marked this as a favorite
 
Interesting. However, my favorite weird-eyed fish is much more common.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 3:45 AM on April 3, 2008


Awesome. But as much as I enjoy it when a new species is discovered, one can't help but feel a bit sorry for it. For most species the benefits derived from being "discovered" by man are exceedingly few.
posted by three blind mice at 3:49 AM on April 3, 2008 [5 favorites]


Hmm... I wonder how it's best prepared: mesquite grilled, blackened, baked, breaded and fried?

At any rate, should definitely be served face up.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 3:52 AM on April 3, 2008 [1 favorite]


Or, what three blind mice said.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 3:52 AM on April 3, 2008


That fish just looks....wrong.
posted by pjern at 3:55 AM on April 3, 2008


Eponysterical!
posted by Joey Michaels at 3:56 AM on April 3, 2008


Speaking as a marine biologist, my considered opinion is: Kill it with fire.
posted by Jofus at 4:01 AM on April 3, 2008


Eponysterical!

Just trying to live up to the name. Flapjax is our music man, so it's down to me to drop some science when I can.
posted by chuckdarwin at 4:07 AM on April 3, 2008


What, just the two eyes?
posted by surfdad at 4:08 AM on April 3, 2008 [1 favorite]


ugh, filthy vertebrate
posted by Henry C. Mabuse at 4:11 AM on April 3, 2008


I, for one welcome our new...
posted by Reverend Mykeru at 4:18 AM on April 3, 2008 [1 favorite]


For most species the benefits derived from being "discovered" by man are exceedingly few.

I agree. It's much better all around if we are oblivious when we wipe out its habitat. Well, better for us anyway.
posted by DU at 4:31 AM on April 3, 2008 [1 favorite]


But the crucial question here is will it fit in quonsar's pants?
posted by pjern at 4:54 AM on April 3, 2008 [1 favorite]


...Uncle, is that you?
posted by batmonkey at 5:03 AM on April 3, 2008


That should facilitate its ability to leap from branch to branch.
posted by sourwookie at 5:06 AM on April 3, 2008 [5 favorites]


poor wee fish, looking like my mums old photo of her in a kaftan (thats hidden in a sealed underground vault somewhere) - plus just emerging from the pants of konse, no wonder he's looking upset.
posted by sgt.serenity at 5:13 AM on April 3, 2008


Any relation?
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 5:20 AM on April 3, 2008


*click* "Hmm, I don't see its-- AAAAAGGH!"

Thank you in advance for the nightmares.
posted by the littlest brussels sprout at 5:24 AM on April 3, 2008


It's much better all around if we are oblivious when we wipe out its habitat. Well, better for us anyway.

It's always better for us. The discovery of new fauna is just the first step in planning a new industrial complex. Those silly liberals might delay things for a while, but the end is always the same. Better to remain undiscovered, unmolested, and uninteresting in any way at all to man.
posted by three blind mice at 5:38 AM on April 3, 2008


...but has eyes facing forward that may allow it to asses depth.

**stifling giggle**

Nice catch. First thing I thought: wow, neat-looking fish, pretty. Second thing: wonder how it tastes?
posted by not_on_display at 5:49 AM on April 3, 2008


Those silly liberals might delay things for a while, but the end is always the same.

That's the spirit!

Better to remain undiscovered, unmolested, and uninteresting in any way at all to man.

This is unprovable. How many undiscovered species have we wiped out without even knowing? Maybe the survival rate among the discovered is actually higher. It's impossible to know, since we by definition don't know anything about undiscovered species.
posted by DU at 5:54 AM on April 3, 2008


The discovery of new fauna is just the first step in planning a new industrial complex.

From a commercial fisheries standpoint, unless that fish has a great meaty tail like a monkfish, it really doesn't look like the meat it would yield would be worth the cost of prying it from it's reef habitat. Unless it is crazy delicious and is the rage in NYC or Tokyo, or it produces some beneficial and lucrative compound, my guess is that it's safe from fishing.
posted by kuujjuarapik at 5:56 AM on April 3, 2008


A fish with forward facing eyes has been discovered in Indonesia.

...and they only took one picture of it.
posted by chococat at 6:11 AM on April 3, 2008 [4 favorites]


I am not sorry for this.
posted by Jofus at 6:12 AM on April 3, 2008 [1 favorite]


No NOM NOM NOM? Oh well
posted by WalterMitty at 6:19 AM on April 3, 2008


Another one: a big eyed fish,
Yeah, swimming in the sea,
Oh, how he dreamed.
He wants to be a bird,
Swooping, diving through the breeze.
One day, he caught a big blue wave,
Up onto the beach,
And now he's dead.
You see, a fish's dream,
Should stay in the sea.
posted by bwg at 6:35 AM on April 3, 2008


This is unprovable.

You place your bets and I'll place mine.
posted by three blind mice at 6:40 AM on April 3, 2008


Don't you see what this means? They're evolving! This thing has a face, a backbone, and can even walk with its pectoral fins--at this rate of adaptation, the fish-men will be coming for us within another decade or so! Vengeance from the deep, that's what this is... Be very afraid.
posted by saulgoodman at 7:26 AM on April 3, 2008


dire omen
posted by mkultra at 7:55 AM on April 3, 2008


Once, on a schoolbus to North Dakota, my theatrical friend, Mac, kept me entertained by telling me the plot of a movie in his head, which he called River City Jubilee. It's based in his hometown of Maysville, Kentucky, where there is an annual festival by the same name. In the movie, some naughty corporation has been dumping toxic waste in the nearby river, and one day, during the festival, these fish fucking sprout legs, walk up out of the river, and start taking control of the city (and soon- the world!) Samuel L. Jackson plays the town mayor (who has such predictably wonderful line opportunities as "something smells fishy" and "son of a bitch, I'm sick of these fish.") Kevin Spacey comes in as that one scientist from out of town that knew what was going down and tried to warn everybody and you should have listened to him. Mayor Jackson is determined to send these fish "back to the hell from wence they came from" and he and Scientist Spacey team up and kick ass. Sexual tension mounts between the scientist and the mayor's daughter, played by Alicia Keys (?). The surviving townspeople have fled to the sewers for safety, where the tension between Kevin Spacey and Alicia Keys reaches its peek; they do it right there in the sewer while Jennifer Paige's 1992 hit "Crush" plays. Long story short, they save the town from the fish monsters. And the scientist marries the mayor's daughter, and the whole gang is gathered at the wedding reception and this rotund chef comes up with a silver tray and asks, "Chicken...or...... FISH?" Everyone looks nervously at one another for a few beats, and then they all start laughing. Roll credits. Mac says it's like Erin Brockovich meets Men in Black.
posted by thebellafonte at 8:40 AM on April 3, 2008 [2 favorites]


This is unprovable. How many undiscovered species have we wiped out without even knowing?

57.

I love rhetorical questions.

(This comment written by a fish with forward facing eyes...a few hundred million years removed)
posted by salishsea at 8:51 AM on April 3, 2008


It looks like the Oogie Boogie Man. I love it. I love it very much.
posted by Sticherbeast at 9:00 AM on April 3, 2008 [1 favorite]


Documentation of fish with forward facing eyes has been around since at least 1983. HERE'S PROOF!
posted by Shfishp at 9:18 AM on April 3, 2008


I wonder what it would be like to live on a planet, excedingly rich in complex life-forms, some intellegent, and not be known to them, at all. Rather nice, I suspect.
posted by johnj at 10:02 AM on April 3, 2008


Looks like a Jim Henson creation. I half expect it to start telling me how to spell or break out in song.

Ma na Ma na, duh DUH daduhduh... Ma na Ma na, duh DUh DA DUH...
posted by The Power Nap at 10:15 AM on April 3, 2008


Maybe I'm not understanding the significance of this, but haven't we known about fish with forward facing eyes for ever?
posted by quin at 10:27 AM on April 3, 2008 [1 favorite]


So, thebellafonte -- did you or your buddy ever see The Host?
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 11:08 AM on April 3, 2008


God made them that way. I know it might seem weird but its god's creation.
posted by Citizen Premier at 11:16 AM on April 3, 2008


In all honesty, those eyes don't really look all that forward-facing compared to any other fish with round faces. Maybe clearer pictures would help?

Still, new species of anglerfish ftw!
posted by bettafish at 12:35 PM on April 3, 2008


(( *_* ))
posted by kosher_jenny at 1:17 PM on April 3, 2008 [3 favorites]


Nice to see they’re finally paying attention.
posted by Smedleyman at 2:48 PM on April 3, 2008


Ah, to be in marine biology, where N=1 is enough for the discovery of a whole new family of fish, with media coverage no less!
posted by kisch mokusch at 3:26 PM on April 3, 2008


The better to watch 3D movies with! James Cameron has a whole new market to aim for (or at).
posted by brundlefly at 3:43 PM on April 3, 2008


Good picture, but as to the idea that this is remarkable....

blobfish
anglerfish
barreleyes

....and while not actually a fish, the box jellyfish at least gets points for impersonation of both attributes (human-like eyes, fish-like creature)....

....anyhow, here's another picture/take on the frogfish from the fpp.
posted by humannaire at 6:15 PM on April 3, 2008 [1 favorite]


...and while not actually a fish, the box jellyfish at least gets points for impersonation of both attributes (human-like eyes, fish-like creature)....

That is much more disturbing-looking than I expected. It looks like a transparent Zoidberg!

And I don't think blobfish will ever stop looking freaky to me.
posted by kosher_jenny at 7:10 PM on April 3, 2008


Actually Guy_Inamonkeysuit, I did see The Host, shortly after it came out on video-- it was promptly forgettable. The trailer makes it look freaking great though. I will recommend it to my friend, now that you mention it.
posted by thebellafonte at 7:29 AM on April 4, 2008


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