Diver Unmasks Hairy Orange Reef Fish, Solves 20-Year Mystery

A diver photographed an orange, hairy-looking fish in Papua New Guinea about 23 years ago, which stumped scientists for years. In 2020, marine biologists confirmed it as a new species, Solenostomus snuffleupagus, named for its Sesame Street‑inspired shaggy appearance; its hairlike filaments camouflage it among algae, helping explain why it took so long to identify.