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Scientists have discovered a new species of brightly-coloured fish named after Wakanda, the fictional country and a home of marvel Black Panther in the hit movie.
The six-centimetre fish was found in the ‘twilight zone’, 200 feet beneath the ocean’s surface off the coast of Zanzibar, Tanzania. In a research published at Science Daily on July 11, the scientists named the fish with deep purple scales Wakanda in honour of the fictitious nation from the comics and movie Black Panther.
The scientists said the vibrant purple scales of the fish reminded them of Black Panther’s suit lined with powerful yet rare vibranium metal. They then gave the fish its name as Cirrhilabrus Wakanda (common name “Vibranium Fairy Wrasse”).
“When we thought about the secretive and isolated nature of these unexplored African reefs, we knew we had to name this new species after Wakanda,” says Yi-Kai Tea, lead author and PhD student from University of Sydney.
The new discovery revealed that both and female Wakandas boast a vibrant purple colour with a pair of facial stripes above their eyes. Their fins and tails are also a beautiful two-toned colour. The fish species joins a family of seven other fairy wrasse species in the western Indian Ocean, with some extended fishy relatives in the Pacific.
