National Geographic Contest: Name the Mystery Fish!

Deadline: 26 August, 2013
Open to: individuals who have reached the age of majority in their jurisdiction of residence at the time of entry, who do NOT reside in Cuba, Iran, North Korea, the Province of Quebec, Sudan, or Syria, and who are National Geographic Society members at the time of entry
Award: a ten-day trip to the Galapagos

What’s in a name? Whether you’re star-crossed lovers in a Shakespeare play or researchers exploring the ends of the Earth, names can be everything. A proper name can transcend languages and cultures, allowing anyone around the world to know who or what you’re talking about.

Now, folks have a chance to help give a mystery fish a new identity—and for one lucky contest winner, a chance to go on a ten-day trip to the Galápagos.

Discovered in February in the seas surrounding the Desventuradas Islands (the “unfortunate” islands in Spanish) off the coast of Chile, experts say this fish (pictured) could be a new species. The National Geographic Society is holding a contest from July 31 to August 26 to give this mystery fish a common name.

National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Enric Sala came upon the four-inch (ten-centimeter) creature while exploring a seamount near San Félix Island (map) in the eastern Pacific Ocean. While maneuvering a submersible 436 feet (133 meters) down a basalt wall, Sala and colleagues spotted several brightly colored spots hovering near the rock. “We got closer and tried to focus and zoom our video camera to get a closer look, but the spots darted into a hole and disappeared as soon as our submarine lights were on them,” Sala wrote in an email. They saw more of the yellow-orange spots farther down and were able to get a good look at the organisms. It turns out they were fish that Sala had never seen before.

Who may enter?

The contest is open only to individuals who have reached the age of majority in their jurisdiction of residence at the time of entry, who do NOT reside in Cuba, Iran, North Korea, the Province of Quebec, Sudan, or Syria, and who are National Geographic Society members at the time of entry. To become a member of National Geographic Society, register for a free online account at NameThisFish.org or at nationalgeographic.com. Employees of National Geographic Society, and its subsidiaries and affiliates, and their immediate family members (spouse, parent, child, sibling and their respective spouses, regardless of where they live) or persons living in the same households of such employees, whether or not related are not eligible.

Learn more about the contest rules!

Prizes

One (1) Prize will be awarded. The Prize consists of: a 10-day Galápagos National Geographic Expedition in a Category 2 cabin aboard the National Geographic Endeavour for the winner and one (1) guest in 2014. The Prize Expedition will include round-trip economy air transportation for two (2) between a major international gateway airport near the winner’s home (as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion) and Galápagos, Ecuador (via Guayaquil, Ecuador); one (1) night accommodations (single room, double occupancy) at a hotel in Guayaquil, Ecuador at start of trip, seven (7) nights’ accommodations in a Category 2 cabin aboard the National Geographic Endeavour; one (1) night accommodations (single room, double occupancy) at a hotel in Guayaquil, Ecuador at end of trip; ground transportation between the airport and hotel; and meals and other items as described in the catalog description of the Expedition available here.

How to Apply?

People can enter their submissions in the comment box below HERE.

The Fish Name you submit should be descriptive of The Fish, for example evoking its color, shape, or character. Each entry must comply with the following requirements:

  • The Fish Name must not contain or be confusingly similar to any service or product names, brand names, service marks or trademarks, including National Geographic marks.
  • The Fish Name must not, in the sole and unfettered discretion of the Sponsor, contain obscene, provocative, defamatory, sexually explicit, or otherwise objectionable or inappropriate language.
  • The Fish Name must not contain material that is unlawful, in violation of or contrary to the laws or regulations in any state where the entry is created.
  • The Fish Name must not be a personal dedication.
  • The Fish Name must be an original creation developed exclusively by the entrant. By entering the Contest, entrant represents, acknowledges and warrants that the submitted Fish Name does not infringe on the copyrights, trademarks, moral rights, rights of privacy/publicity or intellectual property rights of any person or entity, and that no other party has any right, title, claim or interest in the Fish Name.

The deadline to enter the contest is 26 August, 2013

The official call

The official website

6 thoughts on “National Geographic Contest: Name the Mystery Fish!

  1. Dipslindo lux fish
    The word dipslindo is the jumbled word of spindle (repeating 'i" and "d', omiting "e")
    The word "spindle" because the fish is spindle shaped
    "lindo" means "cute' in Spanish,as it is cute
    "lux" means light in Latin, as the fish has a glowing light effect

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