Japan Discovered A New Sea Creature Called The Skeleton Panda Sea Squirt And It Is The Cutest
The “skeleton panda sea squirt” had never been studied until a scientist saw a picture of the mysterious creature on the internet in 2018.
Japanese scientists have discovered a new species of sea creature, which they are calling “skeleton panda sea squirt” for its skeleton-like body structure and black spots that look like panda’s face.
Measuring about two centimeters long, the skeleton panda sea squirt was discovered from waters around the coast of Kumejima Island, Japan.
It had never been studied until a scientist saw a picture of the mysterious creature on the internet in 2018.
In early February, Japanese researchers declared its scientific name as Clavelina ossipandae.
Clavelina means “little bottle”, and ossipandae refers to its skeleton and panda-like appearance.
“The black parts on the head that look like a panda’s eyes and nose are just a pattern, and we don’t really know why the pattern is there,” the researcher told CNN.
Meanwhile, the white parts that look like bones are the sea squirt’s blood vessels, which run horizontally through its gills, the researcher said.
Scientists say the discovery of the newest skeleton panda sea squirt sheds light on the ocean’s uncharted zones and will allow researchers to broaden their perspective of Japan’s marine biodiversity.
