‘Golden’ sea creature found ‘deep within’ underwater caves. It’s a new species
On a coral reef off the western coast of Saudi Arabia, a “golden” creature with yellowy eyes tucked itself “deep within” an underwater cave. But its hiding spot wasn’t quite hidden enough.
Nearby divers noticed the “distinctive” animal — and discovered a new species.
A team of researchers visited several “offshore reefs in the Farasan Banks” of the Red Sea between 2022 and 2024 as part of a project to survey marine biodiversity, according to a study published Oct. 9 in the peer-reviewed journal ZooKeys.
During their dives, researchers found some unfamiliar-looking yellow fish living in caves of the coral reefs, the study said. Intrigued, they caught a few of the animals, analyzed their DNA and soon realized they’d discovered a new species: Trimma berumeni, or Mikey’s golden pygmygoby.
Mikey’s golden pygmygobies are considered small, measuring less than an inch in length, the study said. Their eyes are “golden-yellow” with a “golden ring around pupil and inverted golden triangle.”
A photo shows the “bright yellow” coloring of the new species. Researchers described its fins as being “translucent with (a) yellow-green” band and some orange tinges.
Mikey’s golden pygmygobies were “typically found deep within caves” of offshore coral reefs, the study said. The fish were seen swimming “along the surface of cave roofs and walls in small groups of three to ten individuals” or “occasionally” on their own.
Although a few fish were seen at shallower depths, most specimens of the new species lived about 100 feet down, researchers said. “Our collections and surveys were limited to (about 100 feet), but it is likely that the species extends to greater depths. We observed this species exclusively on reefs with steep walls.”
Researchers said they named the new species after scientist Michael Berumen “in recognition of his substantial contributions to our understanding of the ecology and biodiversity of Red Sea coral reefs.”
So far, Mikey’s golden pygmygobies have been found “throughout much of the Farasan Banks in the southeastern Red Sea” along the western coast of Saudi Arabia, the study said. The new species has not been found in “similar habitats” of nearby regions “despite extensive collections” efforts.
The Red Sea also borders Egypt, Eritrea, Djibouti, Israel, Jordan, Sudan and Yemen.
The new species was identified by its DNA, scale pattern, fin shape, coloring, eyes, body proportions and other subtle physical features, the study said.
The research team included Viktor Peinemann, Lucia Pombo-Ayora, Walter Rich, Michael Fox and Darren Coker.
This story was originally published October 10, 2025 at 8:41 AM with the headline "‘Golden’ sea creature found ‘deep within’ underwater caves. It’s a new species."
