Luzonichthys kiomeamea is a brand new species of splitfin anthias that was just described. This novel schooling reef fish is part of a cohort of new species that were discovered by the California Academy of Sciences on an expedition to Easter Island more than two years ago in 2017.
We’ve already enjoyed the formal description of one of these cute fish, Plectranthias ahiahiata, a pretty orange fish with some red details towards the tail. Luzonichthys splitfin anthias are not often seen in the saltwater aquarium world as the species from this genus are even more delicate than their Pseudanthias counterparts, and it’s been over four years since the last new species, Luzonichthys seaver was described from specimens collected in Pohnpei.
From a distance the newly described Luzonichthys kiomeamea is generally pink but up close this species is more nuanced and detailed in its appearance. The orange to pink body is countershaded with a silvery white belly, meanwhile the fins are fiery orangey-yellow with the first and second dorsal fin punctuated by a pattern of small red dots. The common name of Luzonichthys kiomeamea is the Rapa Nui Splitfin which is believed to be endemic to the isolated reefs of Easter Island. [JOSF]
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