Mini-fish transparent is discovered in the Amazon

A new species of ornamental fish that inhabits the rivers Madeira and Purus, Amazonas, was discovered by researcher, Cristina Bührnheim, at the Federal University of Amazonas.

For its small size compared to other fish in the same group, the Dalmatian piaba (Amazonspinther dalmata) is considered a miniature - copies are collected on average 17 mm and 20 mm are not long, when other piabas reach 60 millimeters.

According to the researcher, the miniaturization is an evolutionary phenomenon that occurs in many types of animals. The science, however, does not have a definitive explanation about why certain types of animals decrease in size.

The name "Dalmatian" result of the three black spots that the fish present. To Bührnheim, the species has commercial potential. The publication of the discovery was made in December in the scientific journal "Neotropical Ichthyology."

Article and photo from the Portal of Amazonia