Cirrhilabrus wakanda
Species of fairy wrasse
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cirrhilabrus wakanda, the vibranium fairy wrasse,[1][2] is a species of fairy wrasse from mesophotic reefs at depths of 50–100 m (160–330 ft) in the western Indian Ocean off Tanzania and Mozambique.[3][4] It was first collected off the coast of Zanzibar, Tanzania by scientists from the California Academy of Sciences.[5] Its separation from the very similar C. rubrisquamis of the Chagos Islands needs confirmation.[4]
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| Cirrhilabrus wakanda | |
|---|---|
| |
| male (top), transitional (middle), female (bottom) | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Division: | Teleostei |
| Order: | Labriformes |
| Family: | Labridae |
| Genus: | Cirrhilabrus |
| Species: | C. wakanda |
| Binomial name | |
| Cirrhilabrus wakanda | |
Etymology
The species is named after the fictional sovereign state Wakanda from Marvel Comics and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.[6][7]
Description
Based on a small number of measured specimens, C. wakanda is up to about 7 cm (2.8 in) in standard length.[3] The body is moderately elongated and compressed. Males have yellow heads, with purple and blue bodies. Females and juveniles are very similar. Both sexes have a pair of prominent facial stripes above and below the orbit; and both sexes have notable purple scales and elements that persist and stain purple.[3] A purple chain-link scale pattern is present, resembling the suit worn by the fictional superhero, Black Panther.[8]
Species comparison
In comparison with other closely related species in the genus, the mitochondrial DNA of Cirrhilabrus wakanda differs from C. rubrisquamis by 0.6%, from C. blatteus by 1.9%, and from C. sanguineus by 1.5%. Small genetic differences between closely related fairy wrasses are not unusual.[3] A later review found that the "C. rubrisquamis" used for comparison were from the population found to be a separate species, C. finifenmaa, in 2022. Consequently, a detailed, direct comparison with true C. rubrisquamis is lacking, but their appearance is very similar and it is possible that C. wakanda is a junior synonym of C. rubrisquamis.[4]