There are brightly coloured, finger-length fish that never make it up to the coral reefs at the surface of the Indian Ocean.
The rose-veiled fairy wrasse is one of many species that deep-diving scientists have found in the mesophotic zone, which lies between the sunlit shallows and the dark, deep ocean. It is about 150 metres down and has a variety of species. The mesophotic zone is one of the least explored parts of a coral reef. The area is not deep enough to survey with a submarine, it is too complex to dredge, and it is not deep enough to scuba dive.
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Special diving gear that recirculates exhaled air is used by scientists in order to photograph and collect specimen in the mesophotic zone. Rebreather divers can extend their dives to 100 metres if they control the mix of gases, remove excess carbon dioxide and add more oxygen.
They need to take down several big gas cylinders and spend hours ascending slowly to get to the surface, but in this way they can see species previously unknown to science in this area.
The forest of the weird was discovered in the deepest part of the ocean.
The fairy wrasse is named after the rose-veiled rose and the pink rose, both of which are native to the island. The new wrasse was found and named by one of the scientists. Tea says that this is the first time a researcher has described a new species. The rose-veiled fairy wrasse change their appearance and sex as they get older. They start life as females and get more colorful as they get older. It is thought that the males adorn themselves in nuptial colors in order to impress females.
Part of the California Academy of Sciences' Hope for Reefs initiative is to better understand and protect the world's coral reefs. Tea named another fairy wrasse after it was found in the mesophotic zone. As the females transition to males their heads turn sunshine yellow, they have vivid purple scales.
The name pays homage to a comic book character. The wrasse lives in obscure reefs deep beneath the surface, making it hard for scientists to study it. Black Panther's suit is made of a fictional metal called vibranium. He says that the patterns and colors reminded him of the garments used in the movie. The beautiful colors of the rose-veiled fairy wrasse have become so popular that they are being collected from the wild for the ornamental aquarium trade. Tea said that they are not under any immediate risk.
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