A fish found at the bottom of the ocean 'moonwalks' backward—even scientists were amazed.

 Deep in the South China Sea, where no sunlight reaches, a submarine was slowly heading down. Outside, it was completely dark, freezing cold, and under extreme pressure—water pressing down 40 times harder than normal air pressure.

​Suddenly, the submarine's lights caught something moving: a shrimp-like fish walking sideways across the seafloor, just like a crab. Then it did something never seen before in any fish—it slid backward, moving just like Michael Jackson's famous "moonwalk."

​Chinese scientists captured the entire moment on camera. When they studied the footage closely, they realized this fish doesn't just move in a weird way—its body actually has special features that make this incredible movement possible.

Meet This Strange Fish

The scientific name of this fish is Scalicus engyceros. It belongs to a family of fish called "armored searobins," found in the western Pacific Ocean. Interestingly, scientists first discovered this species back in 1872 and knew it could "walk." However, it had never been filmed alive and moving around in the deep sea where it actually lives.

​In the past, most deep-sea animals were studied only after they died or washed ashore. Modern submarines now allow scientists to watch these creatures alive in their natural homes without harming them—leading to surprising discoveries like this one.

No Legs, So How Does It Walk?

Now the question is: fish don't have legs, so how does this one walk? The answer lies in its fins. Parts of its front fins (pectoral fins) have turned into thick, stiff rods that act just like legs. Using these stiff fin parts, the fish can crawl around like a shrimp. When it senses danger, it can also quickly launch itself into a sudden jump.

​The real surprise is its ability to "walk backward." According to scientists, this movement has never been recorded in any other fish. Almost any animal can move forward, but sliding straight backward so smoothly—without turning around at all—is truly extraordinary.

A "Rake" on Its Nose That Tastes and Smells

Another special feature of this fish is the branched whiskers (barbels) on its snout, which look just like a garden rake. These whiskers act much like a cat's whiskers. The fish uses them to feel its surroundings and chemically "taste" things to check for food or obstacles. While walking, the fish sweeps these whiskers back and forth across the seafloor, brushing over sand bumps and rocks.

​Interestingly, the researchers admitted that moving this way looks a bit awkward and clumsy. But that is likely why its two side fins spread out like wide fans on both sides of its body—to help it keep its balance while walking.

An Armored Body, But Weak Eyes

As the name suggests, the whole body of the "armored searobin" is covered in hard, bony plates—just like a warrior wearing armor. But its large eyes, which look sharp and impressive, might not actually work that well anymore. Living in deep darkness for so long seems to be slowly weakening its ability to see light.

​When the researchers' submarine came close, the fish didn't seem to notice the vessel's sound or presence at all. It only glanced at the submarine's bright lights with one eye for a second before swimming away. This leaves scientists with an interesting question: Has this species not lived in the dark long enough to lose its sight completely, or does it sometimes swim higher up into the dimly lit "twilight zone"?

This Strange Fish Is Not Alone

Researchers did not just find one strange fish during this exploration. Using a crewed submarine called Shenhaiyongshi (meaning "Deep Sea Warrior") and a remote-controlled robot sub called Haiqin, the team spotted two other kinds of armored searobins. They saw them between 350 and 500 meters (about 1,150 to 1,640 feet) below the surface. In a separate underwater canyon, they even found six fish belonging to a species named Peristedion liorhynchus.

​According to scientists, the shared ancestor of these three species lived about 60 to 70 million years ago. Ever since then, these fish have slowly developed special adaptations that help them survive in the ocean's toughest and darkest environments.

A Whole World of Walking Fish

You might be surprised to learn that this is not the only fish that has learned how to "walk." Scientists have found about a dozen fish species with bones shaped specifically for walking. The most famous is the "mudskipper"—a fish that can leave the water and hop around on muddy ground.

​Another amazing example is the blind cave angel fish (Cryptotora thamicola). It moves in a wavy, snake-like motion, just like a salamander. Even though this movement looks awkward, this fish can actually climb waterfalls—something almost no other fish can do.

​Still, scientists say Scalicus engyceros is completely unique. Its rare ability to slide backward and crawl sideways puts its movement in a class entirely of its own.

Why This Discovery Actually Matters

This study was led by marine scientist Han Tian from Sun Yat-sen University in China and published in the science journal Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Research. The researchers say the behaviors and body adaptations of these fish are far more advanced and unique than previously thought. They believe watching deep-sea animals alive in their natural home helps scientists truly understand how these species adapted and evolved to survive such harsh conditions.

​The team also believes this research could change how scientists view deep-sea life in the future. It shows that even the harshest, most extreme ocean environments can shape rare body designs and movements found nowhere else on Earth.

What Else Is Hiding in the Dark?

It really makes you think: this fish was found hundreds of meters deep in total darkness, where humans can barely reach.

​If a creature with such strange and extraordinary movements stayed hidden from us for this long, just imagine what else is down there. In the deep parts of the ocean where humans have never explored, what other creatures are walking, swimming, or crawling around that we have never even seen?