2019 Fishes of the Maldives App Species Name Changes

Fishes of the Maldives – Indian Ocean

2018 Species Name Updates!

Fishes of the Maldives – Indian Ocean

There is a reason why our publications are used by the IUCN and other important marine research organisations – it's because we keep up-to-date with scientific changes. We are proud to announce an update to our book and ebook versions of Fishes of the Maldives – Indian Ocean. This update (2018) includes additional scientific name changes. Make sure you have the most up-to-date version.

Why do species names change?

New: Taxonomy Name Changes to Fishes of the Maldives book.

Fishes of the Maldives Indian Ocean, by Rudie H. Kuiter (2014) includes most Indian Ocean species known to depths within a divers range, and includes taxonomy changes to nearly 80 bony reef fishes since the first edition was published in 1998.

Recent advances in DNA testing and molecular phylogeny have resulted, in part, to these changes from a total of 702 species by making it possible to better determine whether two or more species are in reality sibling species.

Sibling species are species that are very similar in appearance, in behaviour and in other characteristics, but are reproductively isolated. In other words, sibling species are pairs or groups of genetically closely related species, which are often morphologically indistinguishable. They may interbreed, but the offspring cannot reproduce.

There have been changes in 22 families, at both genus and species level, with most changes occurring in the Cardinalfishes and Wrasses (see ….). Many more changes are likely in the future, as further advances in testing are made and new species are recorded.

In addition, Fishes of the Maldives Indian Ocean includes 15 shark and 16 ray species likely to be seen by divers in the Maldives.