A researcher from the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium got a surprise when buying fish from a local market, finding three fish from a previously unclassified species. After getting confirmation from foreign researchers, it was confirmed that the fish were indeed a new branch of the sandperch family, leaving other researchers astonished at the discovery.
When Ho Hsuan-ching took up his position at the institute in September he was unfamiliar with the Hengchun Peninsula, so he went to Hengchun Market to learn more about the local lifestyle and products. It was there that he happened to pass a stand selling fish, a field in which he takes a personal and professional interest. But when he scooped out a few fish to take home, he had no inkling of the discovery he was about to make.
An excited Ho said that his discovery was completely unintentional. The parapercis shaoi, which is commonly spotted in the waters around the Hengchun Peninsula, shares its name — Shao — with that of Ho’s teacher, and he is very familiar with this type of fish. Ho assumed that the fish at the fish stand were also parapercis shaoi as they are commonly caught off Erluanbi, but the more he looked at the fish, the more he became aware of the differences. When he took them back to his lab for a closer inspection he realized they were a completely different kind of fish.
Although the species are similar in shape and color, the new species of perch has different kinds of spots on the body and black spots on the tail. Ho said he emailed his findings to an aquatic expert in Hawaii who confirmed that the fish were indeed a newly identified species.
Ho said he had never thought of visiting a market in the past, but he managed to find a new species by doing so. He added that this is an experience he will not forget as long as he lives. He also urged the government to protect marine resources, because there are lots of undiscovered treasures hidden beneath the sea.
(Liberty Times, TRANSLATED BY TAIJING WU)
一位南部海洋生物博物館研究員到菜市場買魚時,看到三條先前未曾發現的新物種魚類。他向外國學者求證後,竟然真的是國際全新發現的「底斑擬鱸」,也讓研究員嘖嘖稱奇。
九月份才到海生館任職的何宣慶,因對恆春半島還不熟悉,便到恆春菜市場了解當地民情及特產,經過魚攤時,因跟自己的興趣及研究有關,特地湊上前了解當地盛產的魚類,沒想到竟挖到寶。
何宣慶興奮表示,這個新發現真的是無心插柳,因為恆春半島常見的「邵氏擬鱸」,是用他老師的姓氏命名,他對此一魚種相當熟悉,在魚攤上看到時,得知漁民在鵝鑾鼻外海捕捉到,也以為僅是「邵氏擬鱸」,沒想到越看越不一樣,買回研究室細看才知道大不相同。
除了體型及顏色相近,新發現的「底斑擬鱸」身上的斑點數目,以及尾巴上的黑斑,都與「邵氏擬鱸」不同,何宣慶表示,他將圖片mail給夏威夷一位世界魚類權威鑑定後,更確定是世界上首見的新物種。
何宣慶說,以前未曾想過逛市場竟然能發現世界上的新物種,這種經驗實在讓他畢生難忘。他也呼籲政府保護海域,因為許多珍寶都藏在海平面以下。
(自由時報記者蔡宗憲)
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