Solenostomus snuffleupagus, in situ, Papua New Guinea, 2003. Credit: David Harasti

Swimming among the corals of the Great Barrier Reef is a fish that could be a doppelganger for the famous Sesame Street character Mr. Snuffleupagus. This bright orange-red, hairy, long-snouted ghost pipefish is a new species that has been hiding in plain sight for years, often confused with other ghost pipefish.

A Muppet under the sea

The reason for the confusion is that ghost pipefish are masters of camouflage that can easily melt into their backgrounds. These close relatives of seahorses and sea dragons often closely match the color of their surroundings and develop skin filaments that look like algae or coral.…