New Species of Velvet Fish

Whilst on a night dive aboard the Paradise Dancer in the Raja Ampat region of Indonesia recently I came across this unusual velvetfish. I consulted Dr Gerry Allen, the world renowned fish expert, who confirmed that he had never seen a fish like it and that it may well be a new species.  He is going to keep his eyes peeled for a specimen to do a formal description, as am I. Hence forth it shall be known as Richard’s orange-faced velvetfish!  The animal itself measured around 5 cm in length and was characterised by a bright orange face, one of it’s main distinguishing features, a blue/grey body colour and mottled white and grey pectoral fins.