Para ilmuwan menyambut temuan jenis ikan baru, Eviota santanai. The scientists are embracing a new fish species discovery, Eviota santanai. This dwarf-goby marine fish, which coloured in a combination of pale blue and pinkish-white, was discovered in Timor-Leste's offshores. The Conservation International (CI), who discovered the fish, stated that E. santanai is the first new fish species found in Timor-Leste.
Researchers from CI located this fish in a survey on shallow waters of the Nino Konis Santana National ParK, the first national park in Timor-Leste in August 2012. This species has a distinguished colour and sensory system compared to its congeners.
In addition to the new dwarf goby, CI researchers also found 741 species of marine fish in coral reefs off the north coast of Timor-Leste. Thus, the total number of fish species owned by the country, which is also part of the Wallacea region, is 967.
Mark Erdmann, Senior Advisor to the CI Indonesia Marine Program, said the national park and the new fish species were named after Connisso Antonino (commonly called "Nino Konis" Santana), a hero of Timor-Leste's independence. Antonino, who was born in the area, is known to care about the environment.
Erdmann added that the researchers found at least 200 fish species in 70% of the survey sites, making Timor-Leste third in the world in terms of reef fish species richness. From these findings, Candice Mohan, Director of CI Timor-Leste emphasized the need to protect the Nino Konis Santana National Park area, which was established in 2007.
Sumber: National Geographic