Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium has successfully collected and reared Minous groeneveldi, a rare species of stingfish. Worldwide, only one individual had ever been collected previously. We are happy to announce the world’s first live exhibit.

≪アダヒメオコゼ≫
Scientific name：Minous groeneveldi

This small species of stingfish reaches 10 cm in length. It has a pale-yellow body with a lateral dusky-red band along its body. It uses its pectoral fins like feet to walk across the sea floor.
It was reported as a new species in Indonesia in 2018. This is the first time this species was confirmed in Japanese waters.

Place of exhibit

Churaumi Aquarium “Small Life in the Coral Reef” corner.

Size of Exhibit

Single individual Total length approximately 8cm

Exhibit duration

Until the end of May 2021 (Proposed)
※Exhibit may close depending on the condition of the animals.

This species was first discovered in Indonesia. It was reported as a new species in 2018 based on a single specimen along with an underwater photo. With no discoveries thereafter it was considered a fish with many mysteries.
On March 13th, 2020, a fisherman who was fishing offshore of Ada in Kunigami contacted us saying, “I’ve caught a fish I’ve never seen before.” The fish was then transported to the aquarium alive. Research conducted by staff from the Okinawa Churashima Foundation and Mizuki Matsunuma from Kindai University identified the fish as a rare species of stingfish Minos groeneveldi.
Because this species had no Japanese name, a new name Adahimeokoze was suggested. It was named after Ada where it was collected.
It was named after Ada where it was collected. Observation while rearing has shown us that this species “walks” across the sea floor using its pectoral fins, but spends most of its time burrowed in the sand except when it hunts to feed. The discovery of this species in Japanese waters helps shed light on its mysterious ecology. Details on this species have been published in the scientific journal Fauna Ryukyuana.

About the published paper

Authors：Kei Miyamoto, Mizuki Matsunuma, Haruka Takano, Nozomi Hanahara, Syohei Matsuzaki
Title：Second record of Minous groeneveldi Matsunuma & Motomura, 2018 (Synanceiidae: Minoinae) based on an aquarium-held individual collected from Okinawa-jima Island, southern Japan
Journal publishing article：Fauna Ryukyuana