Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 22 mins ago
New pygmygoby found in the Red Sea remains known from two specimens
Researchers have described a new tiny fish, Charon’s pygmygoby, from the northern Red Sea.
The two known specimens were collected in May 2023 at Walih Island, about 30 metres below the surface.
Later searches found no further fish, so the species is still known from just that one encounter.
The team suspects it may live mainly on deeper reefs, which are largely unexplored and beyond the depth reached by their scientific dives.
The fish may occupy reefs below 30 metres, where sunlight is faint.
The discovery brings the Red Sea’s known Trimma species to 11, and at least nine appear to live nowhere else; the study also provides an illustrated guide to identifying them.
Researchers have described a new pygmygoby species from the northern Red Sea, named Trimma charon.
The species is known from only two specimens collected in May 2023.
The fish were found at 30 meters deep near Walih Island, and later searches found no others.
Researchers suggest it may live more commonly on deeper reefs that have not been widely explored.
The discovery brings the number of known Trimma species in the Red Sea to 11.
- Who
- Researchers led by Viktor Nunes Peinemann of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology described the species.
- What
- They described a new pygmygoby species, Trimma charon, known from two specimens.
- When
- The specimens were collected in May 2023. The study’s publication date is not stated.
- Where
- At Walih Island in the northern Red Sea, at the entrance to a cave on a steep reef slope.
- Why
- The fish’s name was inspired by the golden spots on its tail, which resemble coins associated with the mythological Charon.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Researchers collected two specimens at Walih Island, 30 meters below the surface.
Searches of similar habitats produced no further sightings.
SciTechDaily reported the discovery and described the study as published in ZooKeys.
- Scientific name
- Trimma charon
- Known specimens
- 2
- Collection date
- May 2023
- Collection site
- Walih Island, northern Red Sea
- Collection depth
- 30 meters
- Red Sea Trimma species
- 11
What people are saying
So far, the entire species is known from only a single encounter and two specimens.
Red Sea reefs below that depth almost certainly hold more undiscovered gobies.
They cover most of the fin and resemble small gold coins.