A stunningly colored species of rainbowfish has been recorded in the waters off the Maldives.
According to Daily Mail, this fish was found at depths ranging from 40 to 70 meters. It impresses with its vibrant pink head, a color relatively rare in the animal kingdom.
Recently discovered rainbowfish – (Photo: GETTY IMAGES).
The fish has been scientifically named Cirrhilabrus finifenmaa. The term “finifenmaa” in the local language means “rose.”
Ahmed Najeeb, a biologist at the Maldives Marine Research Institute and the author of the study, was the first to describe the subspecies of this new rainbowfish.
He noted that about 30 years ago, a rainbowfish Cirrhilabrus finifenmaa was observed but was mistaken for another species called Cirrhilabrus rubrisquamis.
To date, sightings of Cirrhilabrus finifenmaa in the wild have been exceedingly rare, primarily located in waters approximately 1,000 kilometers south of the Maldives.
Only recently, Ahmed Najeeb and his team undertook a project to search for and study unique local fish species, leading to the documentation of this entirely new rainbowfish.
Mature males typically exhibit a range of colors including bright red, peach, deep pink, orange, and dark purple. The coloration on the fish’s body has the ability to bioluminesce.
Rare colors of the rainbowfish in the animal kingdom – (Photo: GETTY IMAGES).
According to the research team, some areas of the sea at depths of 35-70 meters in the Maldives are extremely dark. In conditions with almost no light, many fish species have developed colorful bodies and the ability to glow to aid in their movement beneath the ocean.
Ahmed Najeeb believes that the ocean still holds many mysteries and countless undiscovered species. “Describing and classifying new species is crucial for the conservation and management of biodiversity,” Ahmed Najeeb stated.
