Tosanoides obama, a new basslet (Perciformes, Percoidei, Serranidae) from deep coral reefs in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands

Researchers have identified Tosanoides oboma, a new species of deep-sea basslet (Perciformes, Serranidae) within the genus Tosanoides, exclusively found in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. This discovery was made through morphological and genetic analysis of two specimens collected at depths of 90–92 meters off Kure Atoll and Pearl and Hermes Atoll. The species is distinguished by unique life coloration, morphological traits such as pored lateral-line scales, pectoral-fin rays, snout length, and dorsal-fin spine lengths, as well as significant genetic divergence (d ≈ 0.10 in mtDNA cytochrome oxidase I) from the other two known Tosanoides species. This finding highlights the biodiversity of deep coral reefs within the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and underscores the importance of its conservation.

Pyle, R. L., Greene, B. D., & Kosaki, R. K. (2016). Tosanoides obama, a new basslet (Perciformes, Percoidei, Serranidae) from deep coral reefs in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. ZooKeys, 641, 165–181. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.641.11500