New Deep-Sea Fish Named After Studio Ghibli's Princess Mononoke Character
Researchers discovered the distinctive tilefish, Branchiostegus sanae, on an online seafood market and named it for its striking resemblance to the character San.
- The newly identified species, Branchiostegus sanae, is part of the deepwater tilefish family and was discovered in the South China Sea
- The fish features red and white facial stripes resembling the markings of San, the protagonist from the Studio Ghibli film Princess Mononoke.
- Scientists first spotted the fish on online seafood markets in 2021 and confirmed its status as a new species using genetic analysis.
- Chinese fishermen refer to the species as 'Ghost Horsehead Fish,' reflecting its unique cheek patterns and aligning with the folklore-inspired name 'Mononoke.'
- The discovery highlights the challenges and rarity of identifying new tilefish species, with only three described since 1990 and few found in the South China Sea.
IFLScience 
The Independent 