Indian Ocean seahorse named after UBC marine biologist
Researchers found a new seahorse species, Hippocampus amandavincentae, among fish bycatch at Tuticorin harbour in southern India. The 16-centimetre seahorse has a short snout and five spines forming an elevated crown on top of its head, with more spines running along its body and tail. Scientists had encountered this fish for more than a century without realizing it was a distinct species. Its range likely extends across the Indian Ocean, from Mozambique to the Red Sea to India. The species was named after Dr. Amanda Vincent, director and co-founder of UBC's Project Seahorse, whose work established seahorse conservation as a field.
The naming recognizes Dr. Vincent as the first biologist to study seahorses underwater and the first to document the extensive trade in these fishes, putting seahorses on the global conservation agenda.
Source: science.ubc.ca.
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