LayarHijau– Marine scientists have officially revealed a newly identified goby species, and its name is instantly recognizable to anime fans: Vanderhorstia supersaiyan. The nod to Goku’s iconic Super Saiyan transformation from Dragon Ball Z highlights just how striking this tiny fish appears in the deep sea.
Goku’s first golden shift during his showdown with Frieza remains one of the most unforgettable scenes in anime history. That same idea of glowing, intense energy has now inspired the naming of a living creature beneath the waves.
The species is documented in the journal Ichthyological Research after a single specimen was collected near Ishigaki-jima Island in Okinawa at roughly 210 meters below the surface. It measures only about 77 millimeters long, yet what truly sets it apart is its vivid coloring.
A Flash of Gold in the Twilight Depths
The fish displays bright yellow streaks along its second dorsal fin, anal fin, and tail fin, while its head features faint yellow spotting. Diamond-shaped markings run along the length of its body — a pattern that hasn’t been seen in any other known member of the Vanderhorstia genus.
Because it lives in what researchers call the “Twilight Zone” — a low-light region of the ocean that still remains largely unexplored in Japan — its boldly visible colors are especially surprising. Deep-water fish typically appear muted and pale, making this species stand out even more.
The researchers openly credited Dragon Ball as their inspiration, noting that the fish’s blazing yellow accents felt like the underwater equivalent of a Super Saiyan aura.
When Pop Culture Meets Scientific Discovery
This is far from the first time that fandom culture has shaped official species names. Scientists previously named a newly discovered bee after Netflix’s Lucifer, and a deep-sea crab found in the South China Sea was christened Gothus teemo in reference to the League of Legends character Teemo.
With Vanderhorstia supersaiyan now recognized, Goku’s legacy has extended from anime battles to the depths of the Pacific — shining just as brightly underwater as it does on screen.
