Images of a brilliantly hued fish, appearing almost unrealistically flashy, have rapidly spread across Japanese social media. This sparked numerous inquiries regarding whether the vibrant appearance was a result of excessive digital manipulation.
Last Friday, the renowned YouTube channel Fishing Gang Azusa took to Twitter to share a captivating image of their recent catch – a dazzling fish resembling a painted masterpiece. Speculations arose, questioning the authenticity of the image and pondering if it was a product of extensive Photoshop editing. However, the skepticism was dispelled when Azusa uploaded a video on YouTube capturing the moment of catching the fish. The footage showcased the extraordinary appearance of the fish in its natural habitat, eliciting astonishment from viewers who were taken aback by the existence of such a remarkable creature.
Photo: Fishing Gang Azusa/Twitter
The fish, known as ‘Kinubella’ (キヌベラ) in Japan and ‘surge wrasse’ (Thalassoma purpureum) elsewhere, has a painted appearance. It resides in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans, typically found among reefs and rocky shores. Despite its seemingly toxic hue, the surge wrasse is edible, though it’s not a major target for commercial fishing and is more prized as an aquarium specimen.
After the original photo of this fish was shared on the Fishing Gang Azusa Twitter page, it garnered over 200,000 likes and 37,000 retweets. Many are captivated by its otherworldly appearance, with some likening it to creatures from James Cameron’s Avatar.
