Great Barrier Reef: Never before recorded species of fish found hiding ‘in plain sight’

Queensland researchers have discovered a never-before-recorded species of fish hiding “in plain sight” on the Great Barrier Reef, and it could be one of many new discoveries.

University of the Sunshine Coast researchers on the Great Barrier Reef have discovered a never-before-recorded species of fish hiding “in plain sight”.

The Lady Elliot Shrimp Goby was discovered hiding “in plain sight” for the first time by University of the Sunshine Coast researchers. Photo: UniSC

In a project mapping the changing biodiversity on and around Lady Elliot Island as it is regenerated researchers found the previously unknown Lady Elliot Shrimp Goby, and it could be one of many new discoveries.

There could be up to seven more unidentified marine creatures previously unknown to science found during underwater surveys conducted with marine biologist and co-author Dr Chris Dudgeon

Dr Chris Dudgeon a from the University of the Sunshine Coast with specimen samples. Photo: UniSC

Dr Dudgeon said the last time a new marine species was discovered in the reef was in 2019 when a Grouper was found being sold in a fish market.

“This is a little bit exciting and unusual because this fish species that we‘ve described was quite shallow, so this is in 15 to 20 metres of water, which is very accessible to us,” she said.

Dr Chris Dudgeon and Fish taxonomist and Vice President of Conservation International’s Asia-Pacific Marine Programs Dr Mark Erdmann from the University of the Sunshine Coast diving. Photo: UniSC

“To find a new fish species in the shallows on a reef, in plain sight is unique … it‘s a bit unusual because we sort of thought most things had been discovered by this stage.”

The Lady Elliot Shrimp Goby (Tomiyamichthys elliotensis), a small and white fish with brown spots, yellow-orange bands and a large sail-like first dorsal fin, was first sighted in a sand burrow that it shares with a pair of alpheid snapping shrimps.

The Lady Elliot Shrimp Goby was discovered hiding “in plain sight” for the first time by University of the Sunshine Coast researchers. Photo: UniSC

However, its discovery was almost missed.

“Dr Mark Erdmann, he‘s from Conservation International and we asked him if he could check our species list to see if we’ve missed anything and we had,” said Dr Dudgeon.

“In particular, the sort of smaller what we call cryptobenthic species, So these are the things that live in the sand or in the coral or you know, are little bit trickier to find.”

UniSC Marine Biologist Associate Professor Kathy Townsend says the potential new discoveries highlight the importance of the Leaf to Reef project that she leads, at a time when marine life is disappearing from the world’s oceans.

Dr Chris Dudgeon and Fish taxonomist and Vice President of Conservation International’s Asia-Pacific Marine Programs Dr Mark Erdmann from the University of the Sunshine Coast diving. Photo: UniSC

“New species research is critical to identify ecosystems most in need of protection, so too is mapping how the island’s biodiversity is changing due to species drift, allowing us to measure the impact of climate change and act to safeguard against it,” she said.

“We have fish and birds appearing in places they haven’t been found before which emphasises the important role that Lady Elliot Island plays as a wildlife refuge and a shelter for northern tropical species moving south to escape warming oceans.”