New species of damselfish discovered in deep-sea coral reefs of Maldives

A team of ichthyologists from the California Academy of Sciences has discovered a new species of damselfish, Chromis abadhah, off the coast of the Maldives. The discovery occurred during an expedition exploring deep-sea coral reefs in the Indian Ocean. Using hand nets, the researchers captured, identified, and released fish from this understudied habitat, highlighting the lack of research on deep-sea reefs in regions like the Indian Ocean. The fish was named Chromis abadhah in honor of the project's funders, as reported in the journal ZooKeys.

The newly discovered species, Chromis abadhah, is described as having a pale, ghostly blue underside that transitions to a white top, with the blue shade varying along its length. Specimens were approximately 6.9 cm long and found at depths below 100 meters in the mesophotic zone, where minimal light penetrates. The fish's two-tone coloration is typical of deep-sea species, aiding in camouflage by reducing visibility from both above and below.

C. abadhah was observed living near crevasses and sea sponges, suggesting it is targeted by predators. The researchers highlighted that fish in the mesophotic zone often share traits and fill specific niche roles, though C. abadhah's role remains unclear. They noted that deep-sea reefs, while less affected by ocean acidification than shallow reefs, face other threats like ship debris, trash, and bleaching, which also endanger the fish inhabiting these habitats. To learn more, head to Bob Yirka’s article in Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2024-12-species-damselfish-deep-sea-coral.html