Transparent Amazonian Fish
It’s speculated that the combination of its nearly invisible nature and nocturnal ways may be the reason why *Cyanogaster noctivaga *wasn’t discovered until now. The fish is also tiny, measuring an estimated maximum of 0.7 inches (17 millimeters) long and makes its home in the notoriously murky Rio Negro, which may have contributed to its elusiveness.
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Being that hard to see confers obvious survival benefits as a form of camouflage, so it’s not surprising that when it comes to transparency it ahem clearly[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]isn’t[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] alone.
**** Golden Tortoise Beetle****
The golden tortoise beetle (Charidotella sexpunctata) is high in the running for the tiniest and most beguiling of nature’s translucent creatures. At 0.2 to 0.3 inches (5 to 8 millimeters) long it resembles a metallic ladybug and is something of a chameleon, shifting in color from gold to a reddish bronze throughout the year.
Also known as the “goldbug,” the lovely leaf-eater manages this transformation by reflecting light through liquid stored below a transparent outer cuticle.
Glass Frogs
Hyalinobatrachium pellucidum, also known as the “glass frog,” is native to the cloud forests and rivers of Ecuador. Hyalinobatrachium pellucidum’s pale green skin is translucent to the point that the majority of its vital organs are clearly visible. Unfortunately, the species is endangered due to continuing habitat destruction.
Sea Angels
Sea angels are mollusks native to the Arctic Ocean whose scientific name Gymnosomata is Greek for “naked body” and whose appearance is both ghostly and beautiful (see video below). Sea angels are hermaphroditic and feed on another, possibly related, species of “winged” mollusk known as the sea butterfly (Thecosomata). Since they appear to flutter through the water on tiny translucent wings it’s easy to see how sea angels got their common name, although they also have pointy protrusions that resemble horns…
**Barton Springs Salamander
**
The Barton Springs salamander (Eurycea sosorum) is a small lungless salamander unique to Barton Springs, a group of natural springs in Austin, Texas. Its speckled, reddish-brown skin is translucent and eggs or even the contents of the salamander’s last meal are often visible.
Since the Barton Springs salamander is found nowhere else in the world and relies on fresh, unpolluted spring water it’s been listed as an endangered species since 1997.
While for many animals translucency is a way of life, some creatures exhibit it only in certain phases…
Restored attachments:
