Liopropoma randalli is a new species of deepwater Liopropoma basslet that is the latest known from the Indian Ocean. Unlike many species which are first described from one collection area, Liopropoma randalli is already known from Kochi India to Lombok Indonesia giving it a known range spanning more than 3000 miles. Not much tropical reef fish collection happens within that range and the depth of 170 and 260 meters (about 550 to 850 feet)in which they were caught will ensure that Liopropoma randalli remains an elusive deepwater fish.
The new Randall’s basslet has a striking pink coloration with yellow edged anterior portions of the dorsal, anal and caudal fin. A series of widely spaced dark black spots and a thick dark black band across the body makes Liopropoma randalli look like a perfect blend of a Liopropoma lunulatum and Liopropoma latifasciatum. The few specimens of Liopropoma randalli collected so far ranged in size from 4.5 inches to just under 6.5 inches long so Randall’s deepwater basslet is one of the big guys of the genus Liopropoma.
Liopropoma randalli joins Assessor randalli, Hoplolatilus randalli, Odontanthias randalli, Pseudanthias randalli and Alpheus randalli and a loooooong list of reef fish and invertebrate species to be honored with bearing the name of the famed ichthyologist John Randall. Randall’s latest ichthyological offering is described by Akhilesh, Bineesh & White in the latest issue of Zootaxa.
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