Strange New Fish May See Like Humans

[rickydazla]

From LiveScience

With its unusual flattened face, the fish's eyes appear to be directed forward, something Pietsch says he's never seen in 40 years studying the structure, classification and habits of fishes. Most fishes have eyes on either side of their head so that each eye sees something different. Only very few fishes have eyes whose radius of vision overlaps in front, providing binocular vision, a special attribute well developed in humans that provides the ability to accurately judge distance.

Whether the new fish represent a new family will entail DNA testing and a close examination of a specimen, says Pietsch, whose anglerfish work is currently funded by the National Science Foundation. Scientists have already described 18 different families of anglerfishes and this is probably a 19th, Pietsch says. Families are large groupings; for example, all dog species belong to the larger family that includes wolves, coyotes and hyenas.

Nice1, eh? Love me dinglydanglerfish!