A recently discovered species of tonguefish was found thriving in extreme conditions near submarine hydrothermal vents along the Mariana Arc between Guam and Japan.
According to the scientists, the water around these vents is very warm and can be very acidic with the pH level going as low as two.
They new species of tonguefish (a type of flatfish) was determined to be in the genus Symphurus.
The scientists have yet to determine why this species of tonguefish thrived in such conditions but they speculated that the fishes may be digesting small worms from the sediments or even feeding directly on hydrothermal bacteria, another first for a vent fish species.
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A dense group of tonguefish on the sedimented seafloor at Daikoku. The fish are more active than they appear at first glance.
One of the amazing sights at Sulfur Cauldron was seeing flatfish swimming out on the crusted-over surface of the molten sulfur pond! These fish live on the adjacent slopes of the volcano in hydrothermal areas, but to see them on the sulfur pond was mind-boggling!
The exploration is part fo the ongoing research done by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
For more information please visit NOAA’s website.
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