Meet 'Ikuone': The Newly Discovered Clione Species Taking Social Media by Storm
A new species has joined the family of Clione, commonly known as the "Angels of the Drift Ice." An individual affectionately nicknamed "Ikuone" by divers and underwater photographers—named after renowned underwater photographer Ikuo Nakamura—has been officially recognized as the world's sixth new species of Clione. Its official Japanese common name, "Ikuo-hadaka-kamegai," has sparked a massive response on social media due to its unique and striking name. Discovered through detailed research, this marks the sixth new Clione species in the world. Previously, Ikuone was believed to have four tentacles (buccal cones) and was classified under a different genus than Clione. However, recent detailed investigations confirmed the presence of six tentacles, and genetic analysis revealed it to be a new species belonging to the Clione genus. Measuring about 25 millimeters in length, the Ikuo-hadaka-kamegai features a plump and adorable body shape compared to previ...