Malpelo Deep Reef: Six New Fish Records and Why They Matter
Malpelo is famous for its big blue-water cast: hammerheads, silky sharks, whale sharks and tuna. A 2026 research paper asks us to look somewhere else for a moment. Down the slope, into the dim water.
What did scientists find on Malpelo’s deep reef? Six fish species never before reported in peer-reviewed accounts of the island’s fish life. The paper covers the darker reefs where divers do not casually drop by. Researchers surveyed mesophotic habitats, which are deep reef environments, during a 2025 expedition. They used footage from a remotely operated vehicle, scientific diving and collected specimens.
One of the six is the snake moray Enchelycore lichenosa, which is also a new record for Colombia’s Pacific coast.
What is a mesophotic reef, anyway?
Think of it as the reef’s twilight zone. It is deeper than the bright shallows, and less sunlight reaches it. The community of animals changes too.
It is still reef life, but it is not just the shallow reef with the lights turned down. A different depth, structure and set of conditions can support a different mix of organisms.
At Malpelo, the expedition documented species on underwater hills and deep terraces. The new records include several groupers and other reef fish.
What the finding does not mean
It does not mean these fish are common, or easy for visitors to see. This was a research expedition with technical methods and targeted sampling, at depths far beyond a normal dive. It was not a survey of what tourists might spot.
Why the deep reef deserves attention
Malpelo’s reputation can make it feel as if we already know the place well. The new work reminds us that we know some parts much better than others.
A wider list of the species that live there helps park managers understand what the sanctuary holds, and where. It also gives future surveys something to compare against, so changes can be noticed.
That is what makes a deep-reef record exciting to me. It is not just a new name on a checklist. It is another piece of the map, and a reminder that even a celebrated ocean sanctuary still has corners we are only learning to read.
Questions people ask
What did the 2025 Malpelo expedition find?
Researchers surveyed mesophotic habitats using ROV footage, scientific diving and collected specimens. Their dataset includes six fish species not previously reported in peer-reviewed accounts of Malpelo’s fish life.
What is a mesophotic reef?
It is a deep reef environment, below the bright shallows. Less sunlight reaches it, and the community of animals changes.
Does a new record mean the fish just arrived?
Not usually. It most likely means the species was newly documented. It may have been there before without being seen or identified.
Can visitors expect to see these fish?
No. The finding does not mean the fish are common or easy to see. It came from a research expedition using technical methods.
Wildlife encounters are never guaranteed and never forced. Ocean Calling works only with vetted, ethical local operators, and every animal is free to approach, or not, entirely on its own terms.
Sources & further reading
- Cedeño-Posso et al., Frontiers in Marine Science (2026)
- INVEMAR dataset: Malpelo 2025 mesophotic fauna
Further reading on Ocean Calling: Colombia in the Ocean Atlas · Scalloped hammerhead · Whale shark · Why sharks matter to ecosystems
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