Research by Kagoshima University and others has revealed that there is a high possibility that a creature resembling the octopus-shaped wiener sausages found in Kagoshima Prefecture, which is a staple of children's lunch boxes, is a new species.
This creature was named "Yamataro Yadoritsunomushi" because it attached to mitten crabs, also known as "Yamataro crabs", which are members of the genus Yadoritsutsunomushi, about 5 mm in length.
It was discovered in Kagoshima Prefecture 22 years ago and confirmed in the rivers of Tarumizu City and Kimotsuki Town, but after that, research by a group such as Associate Professor Daisuke Ueno of Kagoshima University found that the species inhabiting Southeast Asia is a reproductive organ. Since there was a difference in , it was found that there is a high possibility that it is a new species, and it was published in a British scientific journal on the 1st of this month.
It looks just like the standard octopus-shaped sausage sausages in children's lunch boxes, and since it has been confirmed only in rivers with clean water, Associate Professor Ueno says, "There is a high possibility that it can be used as an indicator when evaluating water quality. ” points out.
The research group plans to investigate the distribution and detailed ecology in the future.
Associate Professor Ueno said, ``When I first saw it, it looked strange and I didn't know what kind of companion it was, and it was a shock.