News Animals

Meet ‘Snuffleupagus,’ a newfound fish sporting shaggy camouflage

The uncanny species has a thick coat that mimics colorful coral

An image of a small fish with a long snout, covered in near-neon orange fibers that give it a furry appearance.

The newly described "Snuffleupagus" fish has uncanny camouflage that allows it to blend in with the bright coral reefs near Australia.

Darren Rice

By Jake Buehler

In shallow seas near Australia, a familiar, trunked face emerges from billowing tufts of red algae. The fish it belongs to, though, is new to science.

The woolly, reddish fish is a variety of ghost pipefish, camouflaged fishes related to seahorses.