New fish species found in Curacao 'biology bonanza'
Source: Agencies |
June 15, 2013, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
SCIENTISTS with the Smithsonian Institution have discovered at least one new fish species at a deep reef off Curacao while conducting a yearlong project to gather data on temperature and biodiversity for monitoring climate change effects.
The discovery occurred in recent weeks off the southern edge of the Dutch Caribbean island as scientists used a submarine in depths to 305 meters.
Carole Baldwin, a Smithsonian research zoologist, said on Thursday that the team is studying 25-30 other specimens collected during the trip that they believe are new species.
"It's like a biology bonanza," Baldwin said. "We're in depths that scientists just missed."
She said the data being collected during the project that began last August will help monitor Caribbean reefs and help developing ways to protect them. The Caribbean has 10 percent of the world's coral reefs and an estimated 1,400 species of fish and marine mammals, but warming waters and disease have decimated many reefs in the region. Live coral cover has dropped to an average 8 percent of reefs from 50 percent in the 1970s, experts say.
The new blenny fish species discovered by the team was caught at around 160 meters deep. It is nearly an inch long and has iridescent fins and an orange and white body.
The discovery occurred in recent weeks off the southern edge of the Dutch Caribbean island as scientists used a submarine in depths to 305 meters.
Carole Baldwin, a Smithsonian research zoologist, said on Thursday that the team is studying 25-30 other specimens collected during the trip that they believe are new species.
"It's like a biology bonanza," Baldwin said. "We're in depths that scientists just missed."
She said the data being collected during the project that began last August will help monitor Caribbean reefs and help developing ways to protect them. The Caribbean has 10 percent of the world's coral reefs and an estimated 1,400 species of fish and marine mammals, but warming waters and disease have decimated many reefs in the region. Live coral cover has dropped to an average 8 percent of reefs from 50 percent in the 1970s, experts say.
The new blenny fish species discovered by the team was caught at around 160 meters deep. It is nearly an inch long and has iridescent fins and an orange and white body.
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