Today we did two dives and did visual and photographic surveys of fishes. One was on a very sheer slope and cave, and another was on a sandy slope with small patch reefs. Some species were found at both sites, but many more were found at one site and not the other – the species composition that we record depends on the habitat. So we make sure to take detailed notes on the habitat at each site that we record fishes.
One of the most satisfying aspects of this survey is finding species that have never been confirmed from an area before. For example, today we found Booth’s pipefish (Halicampus boothae). This is the first time that it has been recorded east of Fiji. This is just one example of many range extensions that we record on a daily basis. When we complete this expedition, we’ll publish our species lists from each location so that these range extensions become available to others.
A hovering goby, Bryaninops natans. This tiny goby was less than 2 cm long.
Photo: Richard Robinson, www.depth.co.nz
By Dr Tom Trnski
