Researchers Discover New Species of Perchlet in Maldives

A new species of perchlet, Plectranthias raki, has been discovered in the mesophotic coral ecosystems of the Maldives at depths of 100–125 meters. Identified by a team from the California Academy of Sciences, the University of São Paulo, and the Maldives Marine Research Institute, the findings were published in ZooKeys. The species, named raki after the Dhivehi word meaning "shy to confront people," reflects its elusive behavior, consistent with the cryptic nature of Plectranthias species, which often avoid researchers during surveys.

Plectranthias raki, or the Maldivian Plectranthias, is characterized by a white to light pink body with red-orange to yellow-orange patches along its back and golden-yellow gill markings. Measuring around 7.5 cm, the species was discovered using advanced mixed-gas closed-circuit rebreathers. With its addition, the Plectranthias genus now includes 67 valid species. This follows the team's earlier discovery of another deep-sea species, Chromis abadhah, in the Maldives, noted for its pearly white and blue markings, found at a depth of 101 meters. To learn more, please read Navami Nandan’s article https://mvrepublic.com/home/researchers-discover-new-species-of-perchlet-in-maldives/#:~:text=Plectranthias%20raki%2C%20also%20known%20as,yellow%20markings%20on%20its%20gills