IWAKI, Fukushima -- A Fukushima Prefecture aquarium is exhibiting the nation's first living specimen of a new deepsea species called moyukukusauo, or raccoon snailfish.
The species was discovered off Hokkaido's Shiretoko Peninsula last May by the staff from Aquamarine Fukushima. In July last year, the Ichthyological Society of Japan recognized it as an entirely new species and preserved some specimen in alcohol for display at the aquarium located in the city of Iwaki.
The raccoon snailfish is a member of the snailfish family and is red from head to abdomen. While members of the snailfish family are typically characterized by the presence of a sucker on the belly, the raccoon snailfish lacks this feature. "Moyuku" is said to mean "raccoon dog" in the Ainu language.
The living specimen currently on display was captured in mid-May this year off the coast of Shiretoko at a depth of around 800 to 1,000 meters. The delicate nature of their bodies are the reason why there haven't been any living specimen on display in the country until now.
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