在库拉索（Curacao）和人类已知的一些最神奇的鱼类工作4年之后，我以为我已经看到了一切，并且开始怀疑我们是否会找到一种与它所居住的生态系统一样独特的新物种。我曾经错了吗？这个新plectranthiassp。确实是深层的另一个奇迹，其颜色令人惊叹，而且举止非常悠闲。
It was collected from a depth of 200 meters (~650 feet) by the Curasub and RV Chapman on the nearby island, Klein Curacao, which is located 15km (~10 miles) from the main island of Curacao. This newplectranthias物种类似于杏鲈（plectranthias garrupellus) in size and posture but the coloration is what sets this fish apart.
红色，白色和黄色的背面褪色到整个身体的红色和黄色的混乱中，带有典型的泪珠学生，但该标本具有黄色的条纹，贯穿整个鼻子，并继续通过眼睛，以帮助隐藏眼睛来自潜在的捕食者或猎物。
Thisplectranthias库拉斯布（Curasub）开始了他的浮出水面旅程，库拉斯布（Curasub）能够以极大的压力收集这个标本，其下一站是与特殊的潜水员曼努埃尔·乔夫（Manuel Jove），米歇尔·范·德·霍尔斯（Michiel Van Der Huls）和乔纳森·克雷莫纳（Jonathan Cremona）一起。这些潜水员将鱼从收集的豆荚中取出，并将其放入特殊的单独杯子中，这些杯子被绑在一起，将其绑在一起，绑在一起，绑在沿线的网眼袋中，以使海水在鱼类解压缩时通过。
This particular fish made his way up to the surface in an amazing record time of 36 hours with four stops and did not require a needle/venting to complete his acclimation from the deep. After the decompression was completed our crew returned to Curacao Sea Aquarium with the newplectranthiasand a host of other deep water goodies for quarantine and eventual addition into the库拉科海水族馆的深水展示.
This fish is so amazing we knew we would not get to keep him for long, but in the short time he was in our care we learned quite a bit about his behavior and habits. Despite being somewhat reclusive at first, this fish really developed an outgoing personality and would often react to greet guests to the lab (mostly because he got fed), but after the first two days it lost fear of lights and camera flashes.
We fed this specimen live mysis shrimp, which it started taking readily the first day. It spent most of its time either hiding half-in/half-out of a small cave or perched on the edge of the habitats in his system. A quite curious fish after acclimation that moved gracefully through the aquarium to explore its new habitat and was never too afraid to show offits amazing coloration.
我们没有机会将其与其他相关的中性鱼类（如金低音）混合在一起（Liopoproma abberans), Apricot Bass (plectranthias garrupellus），bladefin basslet（Jeboehlkia Gladifer), or Banded Basslet (Lipogramma evides), so I cannot comment on how it will interact with other fishes but if its normal demeanor is any indicator then this should be a peaceful fish indeed.
与新的plectranthias是深海盒蟹和最小的叶片basslet物种（Jeboehlkia Gladifer) we have ever seen. Both specimens are just more examples of the wonders to be found on Mesophotic/Deep reef systems (70m-330m) and how little we know about these habitats. The box crab currently feeds on small snails living within the deep water display system at the Curacao Sea Aquarium and we supplement its diet with an addition of other snails found from the shallows and intertidal areas.
Bladefin Basslet估计在60至75天之间，是我们成功收集和减压的物种中最小的标本。该人以230m（约750英尺）的深度收集，并且一直生活在深水区域中，因为它很小，我们会在展示中丢失它。在下面，您可以看到这条鱼类吃arremia的一些简短视频，然后活着Mysis。请注意，在视频中看到肠道中的粉红色artemia仍然足够清楚。
我们花在深处的时间越多，我们就越意识到还有多少要学会，而且海洋仍然充满了像这样的秘密和宝藏plectranthias. As we delve further into the modern era our technology and reach into the depths of the oceans increases and so should our understanding of how these organisms, and their ecosystems, play a vital role in the grand scheme of things.
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to the depths of the ocean with only a select few are able to take our eyes to the deep. Even fewer still venture forth into the depths to bring wonders like these fishes back for all to see and learn. We hope to keep bringing you more updates on the fascinating life from deep beneath the waves. As always you can follow updates on the Curacao Sea Aquarium on ourFacebook页面, or right here on ReefBuilders!
This has been a guest contribution from Joe Oliver, a resident Marine Biologist for the Curacao Sea Aquarium and Substation Curacao.
