New species of Lipogramma basslet potentially discovered in Dominica

Lipogramma klayi is a beautiful and delicate looking species of Caribbean basslet which is no stranger to the pages of Reef Builders. We’ve written about this species at length over the years and now it seems like it may one…

New Decodon hogfish collected in Dominica

The Curasub responsible for so many new discoveries and new species in Curacao is on the move. As part of the Smithsonian Deep Reef Observation Project (DROP), a team of researchers and the Curasub are currently in Dominica, to do…

Kristen Marhaver’s TED Talk on reef-building with baby corals

We recently came across this great TED talk which presents some pretty interesting research about coral larval behavior, and what it may take for baby corals to survive and thrive in a changing ocean environment. “How we’re growing baby corals…

Annual Coral Mass Spawning in Mozambique

If your first image of Africa isn’t white sand beaches and jaw dropping coral reefs, you’ve probably never been to Mozambique, and the Quirimbas Archipelago is no exception with beaches and reefs as far as the eye can see. The…

The top 6 new species of marine life this month

There have been a lot of new species descriptions in the last handful of weeks, and there are lots that can be said about each of them. We’ve covered them all individually but we wanted to bring your attention to…

Dynasty’s deepwater deluge series 3: Plectranthias garrupellus and Gonioplectrus hispanus

The final series to this short Curacaoan sampling deals with two prominent and rather well known Serranids from the region. Plectranthias garrupellus and Gonioplectrus hispanus are more or less icons of the surrounding region and are again, one of the few…

Dynasty’s deepwater deluge series 2: Schultzea beta and Parasphyraenops incisus

Our second series of deepwater Curacao fish aims to shed light on two very unorthodox aquarium offerings. The waters of the Atlantic are home to a smorgasbord of basslets, and it is no doubt that the family Serranidae attains maximum…

Dynasty’s deepwater deluge series 1: Lipogramma evides and L. klayi

Like an infinite looping paradox, we yet again find ourselves dealing with a deluge of deepwater Curacao fish that would be criminal if we did not at least feature briefly. While it’s usually the more charismatic and regalia clad Liopropoma and…

Opulent Osaka part 3: Dr. Shimokobe’s deluge of deepwater treasures

We’ve arrived at our third installation of our Osaka recount and if you’re still following, then thank you, and we hope you’ve enjoyed parts 1 and 2. We visited one of our favourite aquarist in Osaka, and we’ve featured his…

Awesome Fish Spotlight: Lavish Liopropoma, the Golden Basslet

Our first Awesome Fish Spotlight for 2015 goes to the infallibly lavish Liopropoma aberrans, otherwise known as the Golden Basslet. L. aberrans is a cornea scorching fish with an incredibly vibrant combination of saturated yolk-yellow, bleeding into a rich tangerine toward the centre.…