Tony Vargas’ Cirrhilabrus brunneus: a diabolical looking fairy wrasse

Our very own Tony Vargas recently scored with a most unusual lab rid. The unusually colored fairy wrasse appears to be C. brunneus, a species recently described and previously thought to be a dark color form of Cirrhilabrus lunatus, which…

Sandalolitha boucheti, a new species of Fungiid stony coral from Vanuatu and Sabah Malaysia

Sandalolitha boucheti is a new species of Fungiid stony coral that demonstrates the need for more basic coral species research and surveying. Seems like every week we have new species of reef fish being described but it’s much less often…

Banggai RESCUE Project using Kickstarter to aid the endangered fish

Project Banggai RESCUE is a unique new research project starting up to tackle issues plaguing the Banggai Cardinalfish, Pterapogon kauderni, in its native habitat. By tapping into the aquarium community for support via Kickstarter, the project pulls together a team of both…

Octopus goes “Gilligan’s Island” making a home out of coconut shells

In a scene more reminiscent of a Gilligan’s Island, octopuses are caught on film digging up discarded coconut shells from the ocean floor and scampering away with their booty to build shelters that would have made “The Professor” proud. The…