A new species of fish has been discovered: the "psychedelic" fish. 

 

Information about the discovery was published in the US scientific journal Copeia. The newly-discovered species of fish was spotted by scuba diving instructors off the island of Ambon and eastern Indonesia. The scientists have dubbed the fish that bounces along the seabed "psychedelica". It has a swirl of tan and peach zebra stripes that extend from eyes to tail and a gelatinous fist-sized body covered with thick folds of skin. 

 

The scuba diving instructors told the tour operator about their discovery and he contacted Ted Pietsch, lead author of a paper published in this month's edition of Copeia, the journal of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. Mr. Pietsch identified the fish as a new species after some DNA tests and called it "psychedelica." 

 

The "psychedelica" belongs to the antennariid genus, Histiophryne. It has fins on both sides of its body that evolved to be like legs and it’s completely covered in swirling concentric stripes. 

 

However, although it is a frogfish, the "psychedelica" is different in some ways. When it strikes the seabed, "psychedelica" pushes off with its fins and expel water from gill openings to jet themselves forward. The fact that its tail is off centered causes it to bounce around in a chaotic, psychedelic way. 

 

The discovery was described as “spectacular” by Mark Erdman, a senior adviser to the Conservation International's marine program. What makes the discovery more interesting is the question: how did the "psychedelica" went unnoticed until now?