Scientists with the Curacao owned, based and operated research vessel and submarine tender RV Chapman, which is presently in Dominica, believe they may have discovered a new species of Basslet on the reefs of Dominica.
The Basslet is a small and colorful reef fish about an inch and a half (3.8 cm) long.
The discovery was made last week by Dr. Carole Baldwin of the Smithsonian Deep Reef Observation Project (DROP) and her team.
She has studied Caribbean reef fishes her entire career, and as a taxonomist, she carefully studies the morphological (or physical) features of each species to better understand their evolution and biology. Scientists use characters like fin shape, color pattern, bone structure, and scale counts to differentiate between species.
DROP researchers take a small sample of tissue from every specimen they collect, and back at the Smithsonian, DNA will be analyzed. Many biodiversity scientists now use genetic information to help identify species, and in this case, the new genetic sample from the bicolor basslet from Dominica will be compared to that previously obtained from the southern Caribbean.
The RV Chapman is on a month long expedition to Dominica and will explore deep reefs off the island in search of new species and venture into reefs off the northwestern coast of Dominica to document and map known deep water anchorage sites and possible archeological findings.
If my dad was alive he would say the same thing…We have seen these colorful small fish ,if not the same type or something close..
That’s not new…!!!
Boy allyou fool fool in DA. Is there any thing possitive in DA. I keep on telling you lot words has power to perform.
Dominicans are tying their own selves.Why can’t we welcome the new find
I have said before and will say again I don’t trust this people. Don’t surprised that this people are up to some well recorded known lost treasure ship laying our waters and pretending is new specie’s they are looking for. Only in Dominica this things happens.
Looks like a Bob Marley fish. It must have escaped from Jamaica and swim down to DA to check out the vibes.
Archaeological findings? they are probably looking for the Spanish ship that was filled with gold (over a billion dollars in today’s value) that was shipwrecked of the coast of Capuchin Dominica… Good luck to the treasure hunters, hope if it is found Dominica can reap some of the benefits attached to such a find.
Good finding.. beautiful fish. Only DA can produce dat.
Make sure that there is no sunken treasure down there. They will steal it from under our noses.
This is not our fish. Scientist are some of the biggest liers on the planet. Why didn’t they take a photo of a school of this species? These people are not to be trusted. They have ulterior motives. I don’t like anybody playing in my waters.
SMH the backwardness. so new species are not meant to be discovered now? Maybe you should have an operation without any anaesthetic if that is how you feel? Not everyone has ulterior motives you know. The lack of education is rife. By the way, the word you are after is “liars”.
I am a scientist, does that make me the devil? Or maybe the Zicka virus was created by me right? New species are discovered all the time.
I’m not after any word. I’m after you people who are nothing more than pseudo intellectuals and pretenders. Leave our waters alone. We don’t need any new species of anything on our Nature Island. You people are looking for publicity and fame on the backs of “third world countries.”
This is a beautiful, colorful fish. If there is more than one take it to the aquarium.
But that’s a rasta fish man? Eyes, green and gold…
It look nice though
Allu have macoumeh fish now? BWAVO!! ???
Lime Light.. Change everything Dominican Na! You are an idiot for suggesting that.
Is because of fools like you the county stagnant and will keep going to the bottom. CHANGE IS INEVITABLE.
Too soon to replace the Sisserou on our flag. This fish may well have escaped from my aquarium, down the plumbing, into the sewer, then to the sea. It looks so much like one of my fishes at home.
New specie of fish..d sea have boundaries nuh..I don’t trust scientist..they always on a mission…especially now we doh kno who to trust…
Why don’t you trust scientist? Because they operate on facts? I guess u have been trusting politicians so long you can’t handle truth and facts. As the article said she will be sending the fish for genetic testing to make sure.
Sigh . Some Dummy nicans eh.
What are u talking about
Replace the parrot on the flag with this fish