A fish with a mysterious wing found in Colombia: what is known about the discovery.

According to ТСН: In the Colombian Amazon, scientists have discovered a new species of small fish with a unique wing-like flap of skin between its pelvic fins. The purpose of this unusual element remains a mystery.

The research was conducted by George Mendes Taliaferro-Mattox, a biologist at the Federal University of San Carlos in Brazil. He found the fish named Priocharax rex in the Putumayo River in southern Colombia. This fish measures about 2 cm in length.

This species of fish has pale, almost transparent bodies and large eyes for its size, which is an adaptation to life near the river bottom, where visibility is low and predators may be nearby.

Unique wing-like flap

Scientists are extremely interested in the unusual wing-like flap on the belly of Priocharax rex, which connects the bases of the pelvic fins and forms a skin disc. This structure lacks the stiff rays that support other fins and appears as a separate element, similar to a curtain.

The researchers still do not know what purpose this skin flap serves. Its role in swimming, mating, or detecting currents remains unclear.

One hypothesis suggests that the flap may help create a more stable water flow when the fish is near the stream bottom. Another theory proposes that it could influence the courting or communication process by changing shape during muscle contractions.

There are also suggestions that the wing-like flap may contain additional nerve endings or receptors that aid in detecting minor movements of water or the riverbed.

To determine which of these hypotheses is true, scientists will need detailed observations of the fish's behavior and biomechanical tests.

This research may help expand our understanding of the evolutionary adaptations of aquatic organisms and their unique properties. Uncovering new mysteries of life in the Amazon rivers opens new horizons for science and may have significant implications for environmental conservation in this region.