New Species of Butterfly Fish Discovered

Sept. 2016

Prognathodes basabei is a newly-described species of butterflyfish found in the deep reefs of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Check out our video to catch a glimpse of this new fish! Learn more here.

Transcript

Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument

This is Prognathodes basabei -- a new species of butterflyfish.

This butterflyfish is found in the deep reefs of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.

It was first observed from manned submersibles 20 years ago.

But only recently have technical divers been able to collect and preserve it

to document this previously undescribed species.

The new fish is named after Pete Basabe, a veteran local diver from Kona who has assisted with the collection of reef fishes for numerous scientific studies and educational displays.

Learn more about Prognathodes basabei.