Charlene’s anthias, Pseudanthias charlenae is a relatively newly described species of anthias which was first discovered in Cenderawasih Bay, western New Guinea during the big biodiversity exploration trip to the Bird’s Head Peninsula. The species like many others discovered around the Bird’s Head Peninsula was named by winners of bids of Conservation International’s Species of the Blue Auction.
Although Charlene’s Anthias was described in 2008, we mention it now because we are getting reports of a new anthias being pulled up from Indonesia which matches the description of Pseudanthias charlenae. The midbody bar could also describe the similar looking Pseudanthias leucozonus but some other related species such as P. carlsoni or P. englehardi could also be the new fish in question.
Time will tell if we see this new anthias enter the trade, the image above is from the initial press releases of conservation international’s Species of the Blue Auction.
