Holotype of Luzonichthys seaver, Pohnpei, Micronesia. Photo: Brian D. Greene

Allow us to bombard you with some rather exciting fish news this morning! Take a few moments to ogle over this gorgeous, rosy-bodied blonde holotype of the seventh member of the Luzonichthys genus, Luzonichthys seaver. Collected by means of hand and net at depths of 90-100m in Pohnpei, Micronesia, the svelte Anthiinae seems to most closely bear semblance to Earle’s Splitfin Anthias (L. earlei), yet flaunts a striking, cheerier coloration. Unfortunately, no captures of an animate specimen have been made, but we imagine them to be all the more splendid with some life behind the eyes. As goes with most remote rarities, it’s unlikely L. seaver will be within any aquarist’s reach anytime soon, but let’s not allow that to detract from the sheer thrill that comes with a discovery from the interminable depths of our seas. We shall admire you from afar. Congratulations to all involved in this exquisite find!

Source: Copus J, Ka’apu-Lyons C, Pyle R (2015) Luzonichthys seaver, a new species of Anthiinae (Perciformes, Serranidae) from Pohnpei, Micronesia. Biodiversity Data Journal 3: e4902. doi: 10.3897/BDJ.3.e4902