World's tiniest fish identified

The smallest, lightest animal with a backbone has been described for the first time, by scientists in the US.

The minuscule fish, called a stout infantfish, is only about 7mm (just over a quarter of an inch) long.

It lives around Australia's Great Barrier Reef and has snatched the "world's smallest vertebrate" title from the 1cm-long dwarf goby fish.

Its tiny frame is matched by its short lifespan, which is thought to be a mere two months. This quick turnover might actually work in the fish's favour, allowing it to keep up with a world that is changing fast.