New species of fish sighted in the Maldives

A previously unknown species of fish has been discovered in the Maldives, marking the first sighting of it anywhere in the world.

As per Marine Journal Maldives, the scientific name given for the new species is Chromis Abadhah.

The fish was discovered in the deep low-light zone between 95 and 100 meters at eight locations in the Maldives spanning 180 kilometers from Lhaviyani Atoll to Dhaalu Atoll. Thus, it is presumed that the fish is widely distributed throughout the Maldives.

ދުނިޔެއިން އަލަށް ރިކޯޑުކުރެވުނު މަހެއް ، ދިވެހިރާއްޖެއިން! ????????

ސައިންޓިފިކް ނަމަކަށް : ކްރޯމިސް އަބަދަށް

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— މެރީން ޖަރނަލް މޯލްޑިވްސް (@MarineJournalMV) December 7, 2024

Four specimens of the fish were collected with hand nets for further analysis.

The relatively small fish measures 6.9 centimeters at largest and belongs to the family Pomacentridae (damselfishes and anemonefishes).

The Rolex Perpetual Planet initiative funded the work that led to the discovery of this species. Hence, ‘Abadhah’ is included in the fish’s name to honor the initiative as it means ‘perpetual’ in Dhivehi.