A new rainbow-coloured fish has been discovered in the Maldives

Mar 17, 2022

Discoveries of new species in the Maldives have always been by foreign scientists, until now. Image: Unsplash/Rayyu Maldives

Liz Kimbrough

Journalist, Mongabay

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Maldivian scientist Ahmed Najeeb smiling while swimming in the sea

Ahmed Najeeb is the first Maldivian scientist to name and describe a new fish species found in local waters. Image: Mongabay/Claudia Rocha © California Academy of Sciences

A rainbow-coloured male rose-veiled fairy wrasse from the Maldives

The species' name ‘finifenmaa’ means ‘rose’ in the local Dhivehi language, a nod to both its pink hues and the Maldives’ national flower. Image: Mongabay/Yi-Kai Tea © California Academy of Sciences

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Two male researchers looking at live fish samples in jars.

Maldives Marine Research Institute biologist Ahmed Najeeb (left) and Academy curator of ichthyology Luiz Rocha with fish specimens caught in the Maldives. Image: Mongabay/Claudia Rocha © California Academy of Sciences

The Maldives coral reef ecosystem is home to a large amount of biodiversity. Image: Mongabay/Simon Hilbourne via Ocean Image Bank.

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