Wednesday, January 30, 2008

New fishes from the deep

Dragging a trawl thought the depths of the Southern Indian Ocean, the the Royal Research Ship Discovery netted a wide variety of specimens. One of the experts on board, Dr. Nikki King, thought several of these looked unusual. After three years of work with taxonomists, she confirmed that no fewer than six were new species. Naming a new species is always a high point for scientists: naming six of them is like an extra Christmas. And if you get six on one expedition, you know there are many more still down there.

Thanks to Dale Drinnon for pointing me to this item.

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