New Pacific eel is a 'living fossil', scientists say

[xchrom]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14547942

A newly discovered eel that inhabits an undersea cave in the Pacific Ocean has been dubbed a "living fossil" because of its primitive features.

It is so distinct, scientists created a new taxonomic family to describe its relationship to other eels.

The US-Palauan-Japanese team say the eel's features suggest it has a long and independent evolutionary history stretching back 200m years.

Details appear in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.


***video of the eel @ link -- no comment in video.

[WillParkinson]

1. Wow...

It's so pretty.

[xchrom]

2. that's what i thought. nt

[hunter]

3. I hope it survives the age of humans.

.