An underwater mountain with some of the richest diversity of marine life in the Caribbean has been found by scientists. During a two-week dive researchers discovered scores more species of fish than previously known in the region and vast beds of "seaweed cities". But the team says the biodiversity hotspot is in danger: oil tankers in the area threaten the fragile reefs. The researchers are hoping to get the area protected by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The find was made in the Saba Bank Atoll, a coral-crowned seamount, 250km south-east of Puerto Rico in the Netherlands Antilles. It is ranked as the third largest atoll in the world and has an enormous active reef. The dives took place during the first two weeks of January, and involved a scientific team of 12 from Conservation International, the Netherlands Antilles government and the Smithsonian Institution's Museum of Natural History, as well as local fisherman. Scientists chose to explore the area because although it was predicted to have high concentrations of marine life, only a small number of species had been reported.

During the dives, the researchers counted a total of 200 species of fish, over 150 more than previously known. Among their find were two new species of fish, both gobies, which have the distinctive feature of fused pelvic fins on the underside of their body which forms a sucker. "Many [gobies] live in the canals inside sponges, so we take samples out of sponges, and open the canals up to search for the small fish that can be in there," explained Dr Smith, a scientist on the expedition from Conservation International.

View: Full Article | Source: BBC News