Tiny Fuzzy Fish Named for Sesame Street’s Mr. Snuffleupagus

A small red fish that briefly appeared to a diver off Papua New Guinea has been identified as a new species—and given a name borrowed from one of Sesame Street’s most elusive characters. Marine biologist David Harasti first photographed the unusual animal in 2003 while scuba diving near Papua New Guinea. The fish soon vanished, beginning a search that lasted years. In 2022, Harasti and ichthyologist Graham Short collected two specimens at the Great Barrier Reef and began examining them in detail. Their analysis identified the fish as a previously undescribed species of ghost pipefish, a group related to seahorses and true pipefish. The researchers named it Solenostomus snuffleupagus, after Mr. Snuffleupagus, the large, shaggy character from Sesame Street. According to Smithsonian Magazine, Harasti received permission from Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organization that produces the program. The fish is about 1.5 inches long and has filament-like features that make it resemble a floating tuft of algae. Its movements in the water also mimic algae, helping it blend into its surroundings. The species can appear in several colors, including orange and purple. Scientists used detailed measurements, CT scans and DNA analysis to distinguish the fish from related species. The examination found that it has more vertebrae than its close relatives, while genetic evidence suggested it separated from other ghost pipefish about 18 million years ago. The scans also revealed the remains of smaller fish in one specimen’s stomach. The finding is the first documented evidence of fish-eating within the Solenostomus genus. Researchers said the species probably also consumes small crustaceans, including mysid shrimp, as well as zooplankton. The name reflects more than the animal’s appearance. During Mr. Snuffleupagus’ first 14 years on Sesame Street, only Big Bird could see him, leaving other characters to doubt that he existed. Harasti said the fish shared that character’s combination of fuzziness and elusiveness. Observations posted to iNaturalist suggest the species may range across the southwest Pacific, with sightings near Australia, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, New Caledonia and Tonga. The discovery also indicates that even well-studied coral habitats such as the Great Barrier Reef may still contain species unknown to science.