Groppos are anthias-like Callanthiidae fish currently native to the Indian and Pacific Ocean. They are found deep down in the twilight zone, where many exotic and vibrantly colored reef fish are found. Groppos are planktivorous fishes.
Specimens of these then-unknown groppos were net-collected at deep-water Pohnpei coral reefs by Brian Greene back in late 2015. The two fish are now described as new species in the Zootaxa (open access paper). Counting the newly described species, only ten species of groppos are currently recognized; more are likely to be discovered thanks to technology allowing scientists to explore deep reefs.
Grammatonotus pelipel. Pohnpei; holotype, BPBM 41273, 49.3 mm SL. Photograph by Brian D. Greene
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