Researchers have discovered a new species of deep-sea damselfish from the genus Chromis in the Maldives.
The discovery was made by a research team comprising members from the California Academy of Sciences, the University of São Paulo, and the Maldives Marine Research Institute that included Luiz A. Rocha, Hudson T. Pinheiro, Claudia R. Rocha, Bart Shepherd, and Maldivian marine biologist Ahmed Najeeb.
The new species has been named the Chromis abadhah — abadhah in Dhivehi means perpetual or perpetually. The team chose this name to honour the Rolex Perpetual Planet initiative, which funded the Maldives expedition that led to the species’ discovery through a Rolex Award for Enterprise granted to Luiz Rocha.
The fish, caught with a hand net by the researchers, was first observed at Lhaviyani Atoll in the Maldives. Measuring 2.7 inches in length, it was caught approximately 101 metres below the surface in what is known as the mesophotic zone — where, due to the depth of the water, the light which reaches the inhabitants of these depths is often limited.
Studies of the planet’s mesophotic ecosystems have been noted to be uneven. While Hawaii and some parts of the Caribbean, the South Pacific, and the Red Sea have been relatively well-observed, the eastern Pacific, eastern Atlantic, and Indian Ocean have been largely unexplored, according to a study published on 29 November in the peer-reviewed journal ZooKeys.
Chromis abadhah has been observed in eight locations between Lhaviyani to Dhaalu atolls and is presumed to be widely distributed throughout the Maldives. They can be found in areas which feature small crevices and caves closer to large numbers of sponge species, according to the researchers.
Research findings documented that its body is pearly white with pale blue undertones, darker along its back but lighter below the eyes. The scales below the eyes were described as very reflective, while the eyes were noted to have a silvery-blue circle surrounding a darker central portion of the iris.
The ridge between the eyes was greenish-silver in colour, and, while featuring a rounded snout, the fish has pale blue lips, the researchers said.
The fish, when preserved, loses its blue hue, which then fades to a reddish-brown, the study observed.
There have been over 78 species belonging to the genus discovered so far.
