Odd new species found in Kermadecs Islands

WITHOUT A NAME: A pipefish found by the Kermadecs expedition team could be a new species for science but until it's official it has been nicknamed the "orange-spot pipefish".

More new species - including a "straightened-out seahorse" - have been found in New Zealand's largest scientific expedition exploring the Kermadec Islands.

Scientists say the pipe fish, a white creature with "striking" orange spots, is probably new to science and while only small, represents a significant find.

"We have two species that I'm pretty confident are new to science - a little left-eye flounder and a pipe fish, Auckland Museum marine curator Dr Tom Trnski says.

"We suspect the flounder doesn't grow very big as the largest one we have collected is just 10 centimetres long, but it's a pretty wee thing.

"Probably the most exciting find is the pipe fish. Pipe fish are related to sea horses, and are really just like a sea horse that has been straightened out."

The team, which includes experts from the Department of Conservation, Te Papa, NIWA and Australian Museum, have also recorded a number of species new to New Zealand.

These include a shark, a zebra lionfish, a tropical banded eel, a blackspot sergeant and a tropical goatfish.

New species have also been found on dry land.

Department of Conservation botanist Dr Peter de Lange has found three species of filmy ferns that are new records for the Kermadecs.

Confirming the new species may take months, as the material is sent to experts around the world to be identified.

New Zealand's subtropical Kermadec Islands group lie 1000km north east of the North Island.

The expedition has been focusing its attention around Raoul Island, and the small islands nearby, at the northern end of the Kermadecs.

It will now move south to Macauley Island, and over the next eight days the expedition will carry out surveys around the four southern islands in the island chain.

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What would you name our friend here?

I would call it Pefish.
Get it?
I hope I dont have to explain anything

Are they sure it isn't another straightened out sea horse. Have to be honest I always thought the sea horse was a daft shape to start with God was dozing off when he designed that one, but they are so fascinating and beautiful however daft they look.

Beautiful! I love hearing news of newly discovered species. Great reminder of how much we still have to learn and explore on our own planet.

It looks like a snake, with a fish head. So...

Snakefish.

Some days I wonder just how many undiscovered species are still out there, especially in the depths of the ocean or other extreme environments that we have barely begun to explore.

How about just a orange spotted pipefish.There are many species of pipefish found all around the world .The only thing that will be found different will be found in the scale count, colour does not equal a new species .This how taxonomy works ie animal classification .Pipefish or straightened seahorses as you call them are nothing new as a whole. If that if the emphesis of your post .