New Marine Life Discovered Near Saba Island

Posted on February 21, 2006

The BBC reports that an area rich in previously undiscovered species of fish and other sea life has been on atoll near Saba Island in the Carribbean.

The dives took place during the first two weeks of January, and involved a scientific team of 12 from Conservation International, the Netherlands Antilles government and the Smithsonian Institution's Museum of Natural History, as well as local fisherman. Scientists chose to explore the area because although it was predicted to have high concentrations of marine life, only a small number of species had been reported.
During the dives, the researchers counted a total of 200 species of fish, over 150 more than previously known.
Among their find were two new species of fish, both gobies, which have the distinctive feature of fused pelvic fins on the underside of their body which forms a sucker.
"Many [gobies] live in the canals inside sponges, so we take samples out of sponges, and open the canals up to search for the small fish that can be in there," explained Dr Smith, a scientist on the expedition from Conservation International.

Unfortunately, the hotspot is at risk from anchors the size of offices that drop from supertankers crushing coral and marine life. The BBC article says scientists are working to the get the area designated as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) by the International Marine Organizaton (IMO). The BBC provides several pictures of the marine life discovery here.

ANIMALS
FISH