Scientists from China have named a new species of fish after the anime character "Princess Mononoke"

Scientists from China have discovered a new species of deep-sea fish and named it in honor of San, the main character in Hayao Miyazaki's cult anime "Princess Mononoke". This is reported on February 11, the magazine ZooKeys.

It is specified that the researchers paid attention to the unique pattern on the cheeks of fish sold on online seafood markets. This pattern reminded them of the heroine of the anime Miyazaki. Therefore, it was decided to give the new species a name in honor of San.

The magazine writes that the name was also influenced by the fact that fishermen who sell the fish call it "ghost fish with a horse's head". And the word from the anime title "Mononoke" refers to supernatural spirits in Japanese folklore.

Branchiostegus sanae belongs to the family Branchiostegidae, representatives of which live at depths of up to 600 meters and are an important commercial resource in East and Southeast Asia, writes "Gazeta.Ru".

At the moment in the family Branchiostegidae described only 31 species, and in the genus Branchiostegus - 19.

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