Photo of Sirajo goby by Patrick Cooney, NC State University
The first comprehensive study of Puerto Rico's freshwater fishes and their habitat has raised awareness of some "hidden gems that have largely been ignored," according to researchers from North Carolina State University.
The research is "a huge first step in conserving and protecting these fish and their habitat," says NC State biology professor Thomas Kwak, who led the study. "Many of these fish are very charismatic -- they are unique and really worthy of conservation," he said in a statement.
For example, Kwak points to Puerto Rico's native Sirajo goby -- "a brilliantly colored fish that has evolved sucker-like pelvic fins that allow it to climb steep waterfalls and even the sheer faces of some artificial dams."
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