Newly Discovered Fish Is Named “Super Saiyan” by Scientists in Japan

Even today, the ocean remains a great mystery, and many things continue to be discovered, such as new animal species. And it’s not every day that a newly discovered fish receives the name “Super Saiyan.”

That’s right: recently, a new species of fish was discovered, and scientists quickly gave it the name Vanderhorstia super saiyan. In other words, we have officially discovered that Super Saiyan exists — at least in the ocean.

Newly discovered fish is named “Super Saiyan” by scientists in Japan

The name “Super Saiyan” is not just scientists being otaku for no reason. There is a very specific explanation: the newly discovered fish has bright yellow details that resemble the characteristic aura of the Super Saiyan transformation, which inspired the name.

The fish is quite small, measuring only 77 millimeters, or just over 8 centimeters in length, but its yellow details were more than enough to remind scientists of the iconic and legendary Super Saiyan transformation of Son Goku from Dragon Ball. This is one of those moments where real life and pop culture connect.

The specimen was captured at a depth of approximately 210 meters near Ishigaki-jima Island in Okinawa, emerging from what is known as one of Japan’s “twilight zones” — a dark and little-explored area where sunlight barely reaches.