New Shrimp goby Species Discovered in Banyuwangi
- 21 Jul 2026 15:44 WIB
- Voice of Indonesia
Key Points
- BRIN researchers have identified and named a new shrimpgoby species, Tomiyamichthys oriens, discovered in the coastal waters of Banyuwangi, East Java.
- The new species is distinguished by five bright orange body spots, a yellow spot on its head, and elongated dorsal fin filaments in males.
RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The body’s striking colors and Banyuwangi’s nickname as the Sunrise of Java inspired the naming of a new shrimp goby species, Tomiyamichthys oriens. Researchers from the National Innovation and Research Agency (BRIN) named it after the Latin word oriens, meaning east, as a tribute to the place where it was found.
A researcher at BRIN’s Research Center for Biosystematics and Evolution, Kunto Wibowo, said the identification of a new species was not based on a single method, but on an integrative taxonomic approach.
“We combined morphological characteristics with DNA analysis to obtain more comprehensive evidence. The results show that T. oriens has consistent characteristics that differ from its closest species, making it worthy of recognition as a new species,” said Kunto in a statement in Jakarta on Monday, 20 July 2026.
Kunto explained that the fish is distinguished by five large bright orange spots along its body and a small yellow spot on its head. In addition, the male fish has two elongated filaments on its first dorsal fin, which set it apart from other species in the same genus.
He said the name oriens is taken from Latin, meaning east or sunrise. The name was inspired by the fish’s bright orange coloration and also refers to Banyuwangi in East Java which is known as the Sunrise of Java.
“The naming of this species is also a form of recognition of the location where it was discovered. We hope this finding can trigger further research to uncover Indonesia’s vast marine biodiversity,” he said, as quoted by Antara.
Kunto said that, so far, T. oriens is known to live only in the coastal waters of Banyuwangi, in sandy-bottom habitats. Information from local fishermen indicates that the fish was found in shallow waters, although its ecological association with shrimp, which is generally the companion of gobies in this group, still requires further study.
The discovery of T. oriens adds to the list of fish species successfully described from Indonesian waters. It shows that the country’s coastal areas still hold biodiversity potential that has not yet been fully documented.
BRIN continues to strengthen biosystematics research as a scientific basis for supporting the conservation, management, and use of Indonesia’s biodiversity.
The finding has been published in the reputable international journal ZooKeys, Volume 1283, 2026. The article is titled Tomiyamichthys oriens, a New Species of Shrimp goby (Teleostei, Gobiidae) from the Coast of Banyuwangi, East Java, Indonesia.” ***
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