New Species

Ankersquilla pardus, a New Species of Leopard Spotted Mantis Shrimp

Ankersquilla pardus is a brand new mantis shrimp species that is so unique it was placed into its own, monotypic genus. Usually when new species of mantis shrimp are discovered they are small and or nondescript but Ankersquilla pardus has already…

Parascolopsis akatamae, A New Species of Fluorescent Monocle Bream

Parascolopsis akatamae is a new species of dwarf monocle bream from Japan which has a very curious and unique feature. Fluorescence is well documented among many different groups of reef animals, especially the corals, but the new Akatamae bream exhibits…

Stigmatopora harastii, a New Species of Red Pipefish from Botany Bay, Australia

Stigmatopora harastii is a brand new species of pipefish with a bright red coloration to hide amongst a particular habitat of sponges and red algaes. It’s surprising that the discovery was made in Australia’s Botany Bay, right there in the harbor of…

Parazoanthus atlanticus is a new species of Yellow Polyp from the Dutch Caribbean

The biodiversity of the Dutch Caribbean has been studied for 250 years, but most records of Zoantharians don’t go much beyond the genus level or are grouped into generic catch-all species despite being common. A group of zoantharian specialists from Japan and the Netherlands has sought to change that by collecting and DNA testing new specimens as well as reexamining huge numbers of historic records and data of species collected and described from the area.

Pseudojuloides crux & P. paradiseus, Two New Species of Pencil Wrasses

Pseudojuloides crux and P. paradiseus are two new species of pencil wrasses described by Reef Builders alum Yi-Kai Tea et. al that sheds light on some ‘known unknown’ labrid species. In a similar vein to the Roa rumsfeldi butterflyfish, the new…

Scientist In Australia Discover New Coral And Spot A Rare Rhinopias In Comprehensive Deep-Sea Study

For the very first time, scientists have been able to view the deepest regions of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The team from the Schmidt Ocean Institute discovered five undescribed species consisting of black corals and sponges, and recorded…

Chromis pacifica, a New Name for a Common Damselfish

Chromis pacifica is the newest species of damselfish that, as the name indicates, is a tropical reef fish from the Pacific Ocean. While the name might be new, this is actually a redescription of Chromis agilis that once included a…

Coenocyathus sebroecki, a New Species of Azoox Coral from Brazil

Coenocyathus sebroecki is a new species of non-photosynthetic scleractinian coral from Brazil that was surprisingly discovered in reasonably shallow depth. Unlike so many descriptions of new azoox coral before it, we have clear photographs of both the clean coral skeleton…

Vanderhorstia vandersteene, a Stunning New Goby Species from Papua New Guinea

Vanderhorstia vandersteene is a striking new species of goby just described from the Milne Bay province of Papua New Guinea. V. vandersteene is in very good company in this exotic part of the world where freaky little red pipefish and colorful…

Plectranthias polygonius & P. hinano are Two New Species from the Central Pacific

Plectranthias polygonius and P. hinano are two new species from our favorite group of dwarf basslets, and good thing too because there seems to be tons of them to be found in deep waters of the world. These two new…