Stunning new-to-science fairy wrasse is first-ever fish described by a Maldivian scientist

Date:
March 8, 2022
Source:
California Academy of Sciences
Summary:
The Rose-Veiled Fairy Wrasse, a stunning new addition to the tree
of life, is the first-ever Maldivian fish to be described by a
local scientist.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Though there are hundreds of species of fish found off the coast
of the Maldives, a mesmerizing new addition is the first-ever to be
formally described -- the scientific process an organism goes through
to be recognized as a new species -- by a Maldivian researcher. The new-to-science Rose-Veiled Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus finifenmaa),
described today in the journal ZooKeys, is also one of the first species
to have its name derived from the local Dhivehi language, 'finifenmaa'
meaning 'rose', a nod to both its pink hues and the island nation's
national flower. Scientists from the California Academy of Sciences, the University of Sydney, the Maldives Marine Research Institute (MMRI), and
the Field Museum collaborated on the discovery as part of the Academy's
Hope for Reefsinitiative aimed at better understanding and protecting
coral reefs around the world.


==========================================================================
"It has always been foreign scientists who have described species
found in the Maldives without much involvement from local scientists,
even those that are endemic to the Maldives," says study co-author and
Maldives Marine Research Institute biologist Ahmed Najeeb. "This time
it is different and getting to be part of something for the first time
has been really exciting, especially having the opportunity to work
alongside top ichthyologists on such an elegant and beautiful species."
First collected by researchers in the 1990s, C. finifenmaa was originally thought to be the adult version of a different species, Cirrhilabrus rubrisquamis, which had been described based on a single juvenile specimen
from the Chagos Archipelago, an island chain 1,000 kilometers (621 miles)
south of the Maldives.

In this new study, however, the researchers took a more detailed look
at both adults and juveniles of the multicolored marvel, measuring and
counting various features, such as the color of adult males, the height
of each spine supporting the fin on the fish's back and the number of
scales found on various body regions. These data, along with genetic
analyses, were then compared to the C.

rubrisquamisspecimen to confirm that C. finifenmaais indeed a unique
species.

Importantly, this revelation greatly reduces the known range of each
wrasse, a crucial consideration when setting conservation priorities.

"What we previously thought was one widespread species of fish, is
actually two different species, each with a potentially much more
restricted distribution," says lead author and University of Sydney
doctoral student Yi-Kai Tea. "This exemplifies why describing new species,
and taxonomy in general, is important for conservation and biodiversity management." Despite only just being described, the researchers say
that the Rose-Veiled Fairy Wrasse is already being exploited through
the aquarium hobbyist trade.

"Though the species is quite abundant and therefore not currently at
a high risk of overexploitation, it's still unsettling when a fish is
already being commercialized before it even has a scientific name,"
says senior author and Academy Curator of Ichthyology Luiz Rocha,
PhD, who co-directs the Hope for Reefsinitiative. "It speaks to how
much biodiversity there is still left to be described from coral
reef ecosystems." Last month, Hope for Reefs researchers continued
their collaboration with the MMRI by conducting the first surveys of
the Maldives' 'twilight zone' reefs - - the virtually unexplored coral ecosystems found between 50- to 150-meters (160- to 500-feet) beneath
the ocean's surface -- where they found new records of C. finifenmaa
along with at least eight potentially new-to-science species yet to
be described.

For the researchers, this kind of international partnership is pivotal
to best understand and ensure a regenerative future for the Maldives'
coral reefs.

"Nobody knows these waters better than the Maldivian people," Rocha
says. "Our research is stronger when it's done in collaboration with
local researchers and divers. I'm excited to continue our relationship
with MMRI and the Ministry of Fisheries to learn about and protect the
island nation's reefs together." "Collaborating with organizations such
as the Academy helps us build our local capacity to expand knowledge in
this field. This is just the start and we are already working together
on future projects," Najeeb says. "Our partnership will help us better understand the unexplored depths of our marine ecosystems and their inhabitants. The more we understand and the more compelling scientific
evidence we can gather, the better we can protect them."

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by California_Academy_of_Sciences. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Related Multimedia:
* Rose-Veiled_Fairy_Wrasse ========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Yi-Kai Tea, Ahmed Najeeb, Joseph Rowlett, Luiz A. Rocha.

Cirrhilabrus finifenmaa (Teleostei, Labridae), a new species
of fairy wrasse from the Maldives, with comments on the taxonomic
identity of C. rubrisquamis and C. wakanda. ZooKeys, 2022; 1088:
65 DOI: 10.3897/ zookeys.1088.78139 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/03/220308102723.htm

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