Adaptable

Study reveals 11 bizarre fish that can walk on land

by Nina Pullano

The cave angel fish, Cryptotora thamicola, has a strikingly unusual ability.

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Not only can this fish swim, but it can also walk on land.

Cave angel fish walking — more of a saunter, really.

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Technically, it remains underwater as the cave angel fish climbs waterfalls in its dark environment.
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Cave angel fish are part of the hillstream loach family, found in Asia.

In a new study of these fish, researcher reveal 10 other species that have this uncanny power.

Chulabush Khatancharoen

Florida Museum images by Zachary Randall; CT scan of pelvis by Flammang et al.

Scientists used CT scans to analyze the bones of 30 hillstream loach species.

They found a specific adaptation in the pelvis that lets these natural swimmers take to the terrain.

Pelvic girdle of a cave angel fish.

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"These modifications are expected to provide a mechanical advantage for generating force against the ground."

—Flammang et. al

The adaptation is more common than researchers previously believed.

It has evolutionary significance as a link between watery habitats — where life began — and land.

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There are other types of land-walking fish, like mudskippers and frogfish.

But only loaches use this unique method — and only the cave fish has been observed using its gift.

Read more about the bizarre animals of the marine world.

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