Paedocypris progenetica
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The Indonesian fish Paedocypris progenetica has been claimed to be the smallest (shortest) species of fish and vertebrates.
Etymology
Paideios is Greek for children; Cypris is Greek for Venus, a common suffix for cyprinid genera indicating gender feminine. Progenetica i.e. progenetic is used as an adjective.Appearance
The smallest mature female is only 7.9 mm, smaller than any other female vertebrate species. The largest known individual is 10.3 mm. They have transparent bodies, the skull roof is missing. The males have highly modified pelvic fins with the first ray terminating with a hook-like structure, supported by hypertrophied muscles, hypothesized to be used to grasp the female during mating, or to keep position over a spawning surface.(Although sexually parasitic males of the anglerfish Photocorynus spiniceps may be as small as 6.2 mm, the females are much larger - up to 50.5 mm [link] [link]).
Habitat
The fish live in dark colored peat swamps with an acidity of pH 3, at least 100 times more acidic than rainwater. Their habitat is threatened by forest fires, logging and plantations.Discovery
The fish was first discovered by Maurice Kottelat from Switzerland and Tan Heok Hui from the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research in Singapore in 1996, but it was first formally described and named in 2006 Maurice Kottelat, Ralf Britz, Tan Heok Hui, Kai-Erik Witte, 2005. "Paedocypris, a new genus of Southeast Asian cyprinid fish with a remarkable sexual dimorphism, comprises the world's smallest vertebrate." Proceedings of the Royal Society B 10.1098/rspb.2005.3419. [Abstract].External links
- [So which is the smallest species of fish in the world? (Part II)] (with pictures) - Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, Singapore, 4 February 2006.
- [Scientists discover world's smallest fish]
References
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