Tag: goby

New ‘grumpy’ fish species discovered in the Red Sea

Found among coral reefs in the Red Sea, it has large canines and a fierce expression, even though it is only 2 cm long.

A team of researchers at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and the University of Washington has discovered a new species of fish that seems perpetually displeased. The researchers decided to call this new species the grumpy dwarfgoby.

Despite its small size of less than 2 centimeters, the grumpy dwarfgoby has a surprisingly menacing appearance. Its large canines and fierce expression give it a rather intimidating look for such a small fish.

Lucía Pombo-Ayora, who gave the species its grumpy common name, comments on its distinctive appearance: “I imagine in its own tiny world, it is a fearsome predator. Its grumpy expression and large canines certainly make it look the part, despite its small size.”

A CT scan image of the skull of a grumpy-looking fish.

The species’ bright red coloration actually helps it blend into its natural habitat. It can be found on the walls and overhangs of coral reefs, covered in red coralline algae. There, it lives in small holes and crevices, using its large canines to capture tiny invertebrates. The grumpy dwarfgoby appears to be a relatively rare species, which is likely why it remained undiscovered until now.

The researchers found the first specimens in the Farasan Banks in Saudi Arabia, with additional specimens later found near Thuwal in the Red Sea. It was researcher Viktor Nunes Peinemann who first found it during a diving expedition to explore the coral reef fish diversity. Initially, the researchers thought they had rediscovered the fiery dwarfgoby, Sueviota pyrios, which is only known from a single specimen collected in 1972. However, upon closer examination, they realized they were dealing with an entirely new, undescribed species.

A photograph of a translucent-red grumpy-looking fish on a black background.

“The ongoing discovery of distinctive new species like this grumpy dwarfgoby shows how much biodiversity remains undiscovered in the Red Sea,” Viktor Nunes Peinemann explains. “This is concerning given the recent environmental changes in the region. In some cases, species could go extinct before we even describe them.”

The region is known for its high levels of endemic species and the Grumpy dwarf goby is another addition to this unique fauna. Much of the Red Sea has experienced major disturbances resulting from climate change in recent years, including widespread coral bleaching and mortality. The fact that new species are still being discovered in this rapidly changing environment highlights the urgency of continued research and conservation efforts, the researchers believe.

They have published their discovery in the open-access scientific journal ZooKeys.

Photos by Viktor Nunes Peinemann

Research article:

Nunes Peinemann V, Pombo-Ayora L, Tornabene L, Berumen ML (2024) The Grumpy dwarfgoby, a new species of Sueviota (Teleostei, Gobiidae) from the Red Sea. ZooKeys 1212: 17-28. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1212.121135

The Godzilla goby is the latest new species discovered by the Smithsonian DROP project

As part of the Deep Reef Observation Project (DROP), initiated by the Smithsonian Institution, a new goby fish species was discovered in the southern Caribbean. Living at depths greater than conventional SCUBA divers can access, yet too shallow to be of interest for deep-diving submersibles, the fish will now be known under the common name of the Godzilla goby.

Its discoverers Drs Luke Tornabene, Ross Robertson and Carole C. Baldwin, all affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution, have described the species in the open access journal ZooKeys.

Formally called Varicus lacerta, the species name translates to ‘lizard’ in Latin and refers to the reptilian appearance of the fish. Its prime colors are bright yellow and orange, while the eyes are green.

The new goby also has a disproportionately large head and multiple rows of recurved canine teeth in each jaw. This is also why the research team has chosen the common name of the Godzilla goby.

Apart from its lovely coloration, the new fish stands out with its branched, feather-like pelvic-fin rays and the absence of scales.

The scientists caught the Godzilla goby thanks to the manned submersible Curasub, which had already helped in discovering several species over the course of the project. Last year, Drs Ross Robertson and Carole Baldwin had another new goby published in ZooKeys. That time, they even named it after the submersible. Earlier this year, the DROP team also described nine additional new species, many of which were collected by the Curasub.

The manned submersible Curasub reaches depths up to 300 m in search of tropical marine fishes and invertebrates. As a result, it provides new information on the fauna that inhabits poorly studied deep-reef ecosystems.

The sub relies on two hydraulic arms, one equipped with a suction hose, and the other designed to immobilize the fish with an anaesthetizing chemical. That way, not only do the researchers gather live specimens, which once collected, are deposited into a vented acrylic cylinder attached to the outside of the sub, but also individuals suitable for critical DNA analyses.

Img 2 Baldwin Robertson

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Original source:

Tornabene L, Robertson DR, Baldwin CC (2016) Varicus lacerta, a new species of goby (Teleostei, Gobiidae, Gobiosomatini, Nes subgroup) from a mesophotic reef in the southern Caribbean. ZooKeys 596: 143-156. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.596.8217