Top 10 - 2010
Fanged Fish
(Live male and scanning electron micrograph of male) Images courtesy of Ralf Britz, The Natural History Museum
Name: Danionella dracula
Common Name: Dracula minnow
Family: Cyprinidae
How it made the Top 10: Males of this species have canine-like fangs for sparring with other males. This is the first record of oral teeth-like structures being found in the Cyprinidae, the largest family of freshwater fishes.
Reference: Britz, R., K.W. Conway and L. Rüber. 2009. Spectacular morphological novelty in a miniature cyprinid fish, Danionella dracula n. sp. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 276: 2179-2186.
Type Material: Holotype and paratypes – Natural History Museum, London.
Type Locality: "Myanmar: Kachin State: stream at Sha Du Zup between Mogaung and Tanai."
Etymology: "The species name dracula alludes to the long tooth-like fangs in the jaws in males of the new species and was inspired by Count Dracula in Bram Stoker’s novel. A noun in apposition."