Scientists have described a new species of livebearer of the genus Gambusia in a paper in the ichthyological journal Copeia.
The fish, Gambusia clarkhubbsi, which was found in the San Felipe creek in western Texas some seven years ago, has been dubbed the San Felipe gambusia and is one of 10 Gambusia found in Texas.
Robert Edwards of the University of Texas Pan American, who found the fish while studying endangered fishes in the San Felipe creek, told the Houston Chronicle: "It was clear that this was something completely different. But it took a while for us to figure out that nobody had ever seen this sucker before."
The ichthyologist who was honoured in the name of the fish, Professor Clark Hubbs of the University of Texas, said: "There are not very many more fish to be found in the United States, other than the oceanic depths. Finding a new species is kind of special, regardless of where you find it."