4 days ago
Vibrant deep-sea creature discovered at fish market in Taiwan. It's a new species
In Taiwan, an unfamiliar creature began appearing at fish markets and caught the attention of researchers.
The specimens were showing up at commercial fish markets as bycatch along with other bottom-dwelling species 'caught by anglers in deep waters off northern Taiwan,' according to a study published May 29 in the Journal of Fish Biology.
Researchers purchased 12 of 'reddish pink' fish from the Keelung fish market and have now confirmed they belong to a new species of basslet, according to the study.
Liopropoma terecaudum, or the round-tailed basslet, ranges from 'reddish pink' to 'reddish orange' in color with a 'broad deep red stripe' down its sides, researchers said. The largest specimen was a male measuring just over 5.5 inches long, according to the study.
Unlike other basslet species in the genus, it has a rounded tail with a distinct 'deep reddish blotch,' researchers said.
Based on the other species the round-tailed basslet was caught with, researchers believe it lives along 'the rocky reef bottom or slope at the lower mesophotic or rariphotic zones' — a range of about 490 feet to 1,014 feet deep where very little light reaches.
Researchers said the new basslet lives alongside and closely resembles two related Liopropoma species — L. japonicum and L. dorsoluteum.
All specimens were collected off northern Taiwan near the 'Three Northern Islands' of Pengjia Islet, Mianhua Islet and Huaping Islet, according to the study.
The research team included Chi-Ngai Tang, Nok-Wai Lai and Hsuan-Ching Ho.
