Cool Transparent Fish - Can You Guess What It Will Grow To Look Like?

Here's an interesting photo I just stumbled upon, definitely worth sharing:

(credit)

According to a redditor who commented on the image and claims to be a biologist, this little fella is a very young (larva) surgeonfish. After some time passes, it will become less transparent and look something like this:

(credit)

And eventually something like this:

Doubleband surgeonfish, Acanthurus tennenti (credit)

Please note, final result may vary depending on the exact species. FYI there are more than 80 species out there!

Click here if you want to see a video showing a transparent larva in action, unfortunately I couldn't find a way to embed it! 

Why Are Surgeonfish Called Surgeonfish?

Here's an interesting titbit of information. Ever wondered why surgeonfish are called that way? Here's the answer:

Surgeonfish, also called tang, any of about 75 species of thin, deep-bodied, tropical marine fishes of the family Acanthuridae (order Perciformes). Surgeonfishes are small-scaled, with a single dorsal fin and one or more distinctive, sharp spines that are located on either side of the tail base and can produce deep cuts. The spines, which resemble a surgeon’s scalpel, may be either fixed in place or hinged at the rear so they can be opened outward and directed forward. [source]

And here's a close up of the "scalpel":

(credit)

Speaking of transparent fish, here's another cool one:

(credit)

This one is scientifically described as Macropinna microstoma, and it's commonly known as the Pacific Barreleye, a reference to its large, barrel shaped eyes, which are the green things inside the transparent dome on its head. The two other things that look like eyes are actually its nostrils.

Here's a cool video showing it in action:

I have actually written an in-depth post about it a few months ago, so click here if you want to learn more about it! God, I love self-advertising!

More Strange Animal Stuff

If you enjoyed reading  this post I am sure you will love some of my previous work. Here are some of my latest posts:

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