A picture of Stout Infantfish, publicized by Australian Museum in Sydney, July 8, 2004.(Xinhua/AFP Photo) 

    CANBERRA, July 7 (Xinhuanet) -- Australian scientists claimed to have found the world's smallest and the lightest fish, which measures eight millimeters at its maximum length.

    The Stout Infantfish, weighs just one milligram, is described as one of the world's newest species of fish in a research published by the Australian Museum's Research Journal on Wednesday.

    Scientists at the Australian Museum in Sydney said the adult Stout Infantfish retains larval characteristics, and it reaches maturity in about one month, and never develops fins, teeth or scales. The female hatches eggs between two and four weeks of age and dies not long after.

    The first specimen of the fish was collected in 1979 from a coral lagoon near Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, in Australia's eastern state of Queensland. Five others were found in the area later.

    The transparent fish, now on display at the museum, has been submitted for inclusion in the Guinness World Records as the world's smallest vertebrate. Enditem