Marine biologists have discovered a new species of the wrasse genus Iniistius living in the Indo-West Pacific Ocean.
Iniistius is a small genus of razor wrasses native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
First established in 1862, the genus contains over 20 scientifically recognized species.
These wrasses have highly compressed bodies, a notch separating the first two dorsal-fin spines from the rest of the fin, and a steep forehead with a firm knife-like anterior edge — enabling them to easily dive into the sand when threatened.
Unlike their coral reef-associated relatives, they live almost exclusively in wide sandy habitats.
Since these habitats are often overlooked by divers, the biology and taxonomy of razor wrasses are poorly known.
“Wrasses of the genus Iniistius are medium to large fishes (usually between 10 and 35 cm in length),” said Kent Elson Sorgon from the University of the Philippines Los Baños and colleagues.
“They are frequently associated with sandy habitats such as sea-grass meadows or wide sand channels away from coral reefs.”
“Adults are usually modestly colored with pale reflective scales to match the sandy habitats in which they frequent.”
“In contrast, juveniles employ protective mimicry by mimicking dead leaves and other floating debris.”
“Very small juveniles are particularly convincing, adopting a languid, wafting style of swimming with their prolonged anterior dorsal-fin spines lending to a highly irregular silhouette.”
“When startled or in the presence of predators, they plunge headfirst into the substrate and bury themselves using rapid undulatory axial body movements.”
“Species of Iniistius are of small commercial interest and are taken as food fish throughout their range, though mostly by small scale artisanal fisheries in island nations.”
The researchers described the new species based on seven specimens from artisanal fish markets in the islands of Panay, Cebu, Bohol, and Jolo in the Philippines,…
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