Dr. Hiroyuki Motomura, Japan
Info
Pempheris familia was described in 2017 from two specimens collected around the Ogasawara Islands, also known as the Bonin Islands, Japan.
This hatchetfish species is said to form small groups in underwater rock niches of up to about 10 individuals, and swim together with a very large number of Pempheris schwenkii observed in the same rock niches.
Similar species: Pempheris japonica Döderlein in Steindachner and Döderlein 1883, which is endemic to Japanese and Korean waters, is most similar to Pempheris familia
Etymology:
The species name “familia”, means “family” in Greek.
The Ogasawara Islands comprise about 30 islands, many of which have been given family-like names, e.g. Chichi-jima = father island, Haha-jima = mother island, Ane-jima = older sister island. Ototo-jima, where the type specimens were collected, and Ani-jima, where the underwater photos were taken, refer to younger and older brothers respectively.
This hatchetfish species is said to form small groups in underwater rock niches of up to about 10 individuals, and swim together with a very large number of Pempheris schwenkii observed in the same rock niches.
Similar species: Pempheris japonica Döderlein in Steindachner and Döderlein 1883, which is endemic to Japanese and Korean waters, is most similar to Pempheris familia
Etymology:
The species name “familia”, means “family” in Greek.
The Ogasawara Islands comprise about 30 islands, many of which have been given family-like names, e.g. Chichi-jima = father island, Haha-jima = mother island, Ane-jima = older sister island. Ototo-jima, where the type specimens were collected, and Ani-jima, where the underwater photos were taken, refer to younger and older brothers respectively.
