[Wildlife Conservation] Globally New Fish Species Discovered in Kenting

[Wildlife Conservation] Globally New Fish Species Discovered in Kenting (Chinese Version)

China Times E-paper, Now News (2010/04/21) & CD News (2010/04/20) The research team of Taiwan Ocean Research Institute (TORI), National Applied Laboratories, led by Dr. Cheng-ping CHEN, found one new fish species of Vanderhorstia sp. and four newly recorded fish species in Taiwan (Amblyeleotris melanocephala, Amblyeleotris diagonalis, Hoplolatilus cuniculus and Hoplolatilus marcosi). These findings and the biodiversity in Kenting sea area indicated by them stunned the specialist Dr. CHEN a lot as well.

This new species of Vanderhorstia sp. looks similar with the endemic species in Japan, which was discovered in Kōchi, Japan. The relation between these two samples needs to be further determined. The newly discovered species in Kenting is very timid. When frightened, it would immediately hide in the caves.

The discovery of Amblyeleotris melanocephala was globally announced in 2000. Beside of the type locality Okinawa, it was only recorded in Bali, Indonesia. This time, surprisingly, over six samples were observed in Kenting sea area. Amblyeleotris diagonalis is a rare species, often observed in Indo-Pacific Ocean. Hoplolatilus always observed in pairs, people like to call them “faithful ducks” (the birds usually taken to symbolize lovers). Hoplolatilus cuniculus, distributed in Indo-Pacific Ocean, and Hoplolatilus marcosi, distributed in the middle and west Pacific Ocean, like to rest in deep sea level (over 30 meters), and hence rarely observed.


Reference:
China Times E-paper 2010/04/21 (Chinese)
Now News 2010/04/21 (Chinese)
CD News 2010/04/20 (Chinese)



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