In 2017, research teams from Kagoshima University and Okinawa Churashima Foundation recorded Plectranthias sheni a species of Anthias in waters off of Yonaguni Island. This species of fish had not been found in Okinawa prefecture previously. This species of Anthias inhabits deep areas of rocky shores and was first discovered off of Taiwan in 2002 and recorded as a new species. In 2017, when it was recorded in Japan, it was given a Japanese name. In Japan it was first been found near Izu Oshima, the Kusagaki Islands and from Osumi islands to Amami Oshima, but it hadn’t been recorded in Okinawa Prefecture. The individual found and reported was collected by the Churaumi Aquarium while collecting organisms and this discovery fills in the geographical gaps in the distribution of this species.

Authors

Kyoji Fujiwara, Kei Miyamoto, Hiroyuki Motomura.
(Bold letters: Staff members of Okinawa Churashima Foundation)

Title of Paper

First Okinawa record of Plectranthias sheni (Serranidae) from Yonaguni-jima island in the Yaeyama Islands, Japan.

Title of Journal

Ecological Monographs