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Two novel metal money of pygmy squid have been find in the subtropical water of a Nipponese island . These cephalopod , which are smaller than newspaper clipping , come up asylum in the coral beds and seagrass fields of Okinawa and take their name calling from- fairies in Japanese folklore and martial arts .

The two newly discover wight were described in a report release last month in the journalMarine Biology .

A small squid swims beside a marine plant

The Ryukyuan pygmy squid is named after the Kijimuna that are red-haired, childlike creatures who live in banyan trees.

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The Ryukyuan pygmy squid ( Idiosepius kijimuna ) derive its species name , " kijimuna , " from a mythical wight in Okinawan folklore . Kijimuna are say to be red - hairy , childlike beast who live in banyan tree . standardized to kijimuna , I. kijimunais slimly cerise and live in the seagrass forests close to shore , up to6.6 feet ( 2 meters)below the surface . Although the specie was found back in2018 , researchers had too few specimens to write a formal verbal description at that sentence , the squad write in the study .

The 2d coinage , the Hannan ’s pygmy squid ( Kodama jujutsu ) , get hold of its name from underwater photographerBrandon Ryan Hannan , who originally found the animal cling to the underside of a coral Rand . This species represents a whole young genus , Kodama , also identify after a mythical being . fit in to the newstudy , Kodama are ghostly , rounded tree diagram spirits consider to dwell in ancient forests . Their presence is trust to be a sign of the zodiac of a good for you forest .

A close image of the Hannan’s Pygmy Squid (Kodama jujutsu)

Hannan’s pygmy squid (Kodama jujutsu), takes its name from underwater photographer Brandon Ryan Hannan.

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Frame taken from the video captured of the baby Colossal squid swimming.

I. kijimunaswims smoothly , whileK. jujutsubobs along with its blazonry splay outwards , in rules of order to pick up hapless runt . These predatory water stunt flying lead to the species name " jujutsu " ( also spell " jujitsu " or " jiujitsu " ) , a martial art .

" Jiu - jitsu orbit around grappling and using your opponent ’s strength , and theKodama jujutsupreys on shrimp larger than itself by cope with its small arms , " Centennial State - authorJeffrey Jolly , of the Marine Climate Change Unit at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University , said in astatement .

Collecting these diminutive creature was tricky ;   both coinage have a maximum duration of about half an inch ( 1.2 centimeters ) .

An orange sea pig in gloved hands.

" There are so many other things to await at , that finding a small calamary the size of a pinkie fingernail is not easy , " Jolly said . Not only are both teensy squid nocturnal , but according to the study , the Ryukyuansquid appear only in the winter . Their whereabouts during the summertime calendar month is a mystery story .

Though these sea - habitation tool were discovered recently , country use threatens their habitats .

three cuttlefish in a tank facing each other

The oddity of an octopus riding a shark.

An illustration of McGinnis� nail tooth (Clavusodens mcginnisi) depicted hunting a crustation in a reef-like crinoidal forest during the Carboniferous period.

An artist�s reconstruction of Mosura fentoni swimming in the primordial seas.

A rainbow colored squid in the dark ocean

Screengrab from a video of a bigfin squid at the bottom of the Tonga Trench. The squid�s long arms are outstretched and its fins fanned out.

Deep-sea squid brooding its eggs

Two images; red squid with two bright green tips at the end of their arms (left), red squid wraps arms around underwater camera (right).

A squid swims in black waters with thousands of eggs suspended from its arms.

An image comparing the relative sizes of our solar system�s known dwarf planets, including the newly discovered 2017 OF201

a person holds a GLP-1 injector

A man with light skin and dark hair and beard leans back in a wooden boat, rowing with oars into the sea

an MRI scan of a brain

A photograph of two of Colossal�s genetically engineered wolves as pups.

an abstract image of intersecting lasers

Split image of an eye close up and the Tiangong Space Station.