Liopropoma randalliis a new species of deepwaterLiopropomabasslet that is the latest known from the Indian Ocean. Unlike many species which are first described from one collection area,Liopropoma randalliis already known from Kochi India to Lombok Indonesia giving it a known range spanning more than 3000 miles. Not much tropical reef fish collection happens within that range and the depth of 170 and 260 meters (about 550 to 850 feet)in which they were caught will ensure thatLiopropoma randalliremains an elusive deepwater fish.
The new Randall’s basslet has a striking pink coloration with yellow edged anterior portions of the dorsal, anal and caudal fin. A series of widely spaced dark black spots and a thick dark black band across the body makesLiopropoma randallilook like a perfect blend of aLiopropoma lunulatumandLiopropoma latifasciatum.The few specimens ofLiopropoma randallicollected so far ranged in size from 4.5 inches to just under 6.5 inches long so Randall’s deepwaterbasslet is one of the big guys of the genusLiopropoma.
Liopropoma randallijoinsAssessor randalli,Hoplolatilus randalli,Odontanthias randalli, Pseudanthias randalliandAlpheus randalliand a loooooong list of reef fish and invertebrate species to be honored with bearing the name of the famed ichthyologist John Randall. Randall’s latest ichthyological offering is described by Akhilesh, Bineesh & White in the latest issue of Zootaxa.