2014 is fizzing away by the day and as usual, we’ve recapped our ten favourite reef fish stories for the year. Normally we’d put out our top ten highlights just as the year closes to make sure no surprises pops up that might reshuffle the order, as seen in 2013’s last minute appearance of Paracheilinus hemitaeniatus. However because we’re on a tight schedule, we’re releasing this slightly earlier. You can bet your bottom polyp that something cool is going to show up after this. It always does!
2014 saw a slew of cool fish stories, from that spectacular blue faced Koran Angelfish to the incredibly surprising appearance of Centropyge nahackyi. We also saw for the first time the true to type Cirrhilabrus claire from Cook Islands, shocking us with its wildly different appearance from its Southern Pacific form. Also in the wrasse category was the availability of Cirrhilabrus lanceolatus, as well as the incredibly beautiful and rare Macropharyngodon vivienae. The latter enjoyed a previously undocumented range extension into the Mauritius islands, and is now being collected with some regularity.
Pseudanthias connelli and Apolemichthys kingi, two controversial fishes also made an appearance this year. After an incredibly long hiatus, Pseudanthias calloura blew our minds by appearance in hoards, before vanishing again mysteriously. Will we see more of this species?
Navigobius saw the discovery of two potentially new species, with this particular N. cf. dewa enjoying a huge range, from Japan to Philippines and even all the way to the Maldives. Last but not least, a super unexpected and incredible debut of Liopropoma fasciatum in the trade by Sea Dwelling Creatures!
Macropharyngodon vivienae new range extension could mean we’ll be seeing more of this species
A first look at the REAL Cirrhilabrus claire from its type location of the Cook Islands
Ultra rare aquarium video of Centropyge nahackyi
Liopropoma fasciatum makes a year end debut at Sea Dwelling Creatures
A spectacular terminal male Cirrhilabrus lanceolatus debuts in Singapore 
Poetry in motion, Apolemichthys kingi in notion
South African Harlequin Goldies, Pseudanthias connelli available for the first time
Pseudanthias calloura makes an unexpected resurgence after a long hiatus
Navigobius cf. dewa collected from the Maldives for the first time
Aberrant Koran Angelfish from Cairns Marine shows off a wicked cobalt mask
Which one was your favourite? And did we miss anything you felt should be in the top 10? Let us know in the comments below! Until next year!
