SOS & Top 10 Species

The State of Observed Species (SOS) will be an annual report card on the progress of taxonomy to discover and document earth’s species. Issued in cooperation with the International Commission for Zoological Nomenclature, the International Plant Names Index, and Thompson Scientific/Zoological Record, the SOS report will summarize the number of plant and animal species described in a given year as well as a running total number of species described since the inception of modern scientific names in the 18th century. Due to the difficulty in amassing accurate counts, SOS reports will be for the calender year two years prior to the announcement year (eg., results for 2006 will be announced in 2008).

In addition to the annual SOS report, an international committee of taxonomists will select a Top Ten list of new species, highlighting the most remarkable, surprising, and unusual discoveries among newly described species. The first international committee is chaired by Dr. Janine Caira of the University of Connecticut and is being formed to evaluate species described in the calendar year 2007.

The first SOS report and Top Ten list will be issued in 2008, the tercentenary of the birth of Caroli Linnaeus, the Swedish naturalist who is the father of modern biological nomenclature.

Nominations for the Top Ten list are welcome from anyone and may be submitted by filling out this form.

Incredible Flat Faced Fish Discovered!

A new species of fish with a flat face and forward facing eyes has been discovered off Ambon Island, Indonesia by Professor Ted Pietsch, University of Washington. The press release by the University of Washington Office of News and Information can be read here.

If you look closely you can see the leg-like pectoral fin which Pietsch believes may relate it to the angler fish.


Photo Credit: M. Snyder, starknakedfish.com/divingmaluku.com

Everything you ever wanted to know about fish

The Australian Museum Fish Site is a great resource for all things fish. The website contains keys, information about dissecting, collecting fish, lots of images and information on the fish collections.

The site is also great for teachers and students, featuring virtual dissections, games and movies of Indo-Pacific fishes, which are linked to fact sheets. My particular favorite is the Eastern Blue Groper (Achoerodus viridis).

Planet Bob: Webby Award Official Honoree

It was announced this week that Planet Bob is an Official Honoree at the 12th Annual Webby Awards!

Since being released late last year, Planet Bob has attracted over 10, 000 visitors on YouTube.

We congratulate all those involved with Planets Bob's production, especially Media Alchemy, Inc., SOLS Visualization Group and of course Hugh Downs.

See it for yourself!