Scientists discover a new rainbow-coloured fish
Researchers have described a stunning multicoloured wrasse in the Maldives as a newfound species after the fish spent decades being misidentified as a closely related species. The rainbow-coloured fish lives among unusually deep coral reefs known as ‘twilight reefs’.
The newly described species, which has been named the rose-veiled fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus finifenmaa), resembles the red velvet fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus rubrisquamis), which is found across the western Indian Ocean. Both species live on mesophotic coral reefs, which grow much deeper than most tropical coral reefs, between 30 and 149 metres below the ocean’s surface. Scientists collected the first C. finifenmaa specimen in 1990, but its similarity to C. rubrisquamis meant that experts didn’t recognise the fish as a distinct species.
Recently, after noticing this mistake, another group of researchers collected specimens of C. finifenmaa from the twilight reefs surrounding the Maldives. When they compared the new specimens to C. rubrisquamis wrasses, they found that C. finifenmaa females, which are mainly red, pink and blue, were a close match to C. rubrisquamis. However, C. finifenmaa males weren’t – their scales featured more orange and yellow hues. The researchers also found that C. finifenmaa has a different number of scales in certain body regions and taller dorsal spines than its lookalike cousin. DNA analysis confirmed that these two species were genetically distinct.
The species name ‘finifenmaa’ means ‘rose’ in the Maldives’ Dhivehi language, referencing not only the beautiful pink and red colours displayed by the new species, but also the Maldives’ national flower. This marks the first time that a Maldivian researcher has chosen the scientific name of a local fish species, despite the island chain being home to around 1,100 fish species.
“It has always been foreign scientists who have described species found in the Maldives, without much involvement from local scientists,” said Ahmed Najeeb, a biologist at the Maldives Marine Research Institute.
However, the researchers suspect that the Maldives’ C. finifenmaa population may be in danger of declining. C. rubrisquamis wrasses have long been targeted by local fishers to be sold for the global aquarium trade, which generates around £250 million ($330 million) each year. Because the two wrasse species look so much alike, C. finifenmaa may also be affected by such activities.
Did you know? Triceratops means ‘threehorned face’