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New York Aquarium News
A Fishy Namesake
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Paul Loiselle in his New York Aquarium office.
©WCS/J.Maher
| New York Aquarium biologist Paul Loiselle’s namesake might not grow up to be as studious or adventurous as the scientist, but it will certainly share his devotion to water. The namesake, a new type of cichlid—black and gold and about five inches long—will be known as Ptychochromis loisellei. Loiselle received the honor from a team of biologists from the American Museum of Natural History, who discovered the fish on the African island nation of Madagascar. Locally, the fish is called a “garaka,” and it inhabits several rivers in the northeastern part of the country.
Dr. Loiselle is considered one of the world’s experts on cichlids, a family of perch-like fishes comprising nearly 2,000 species. He has dedicated much of his career to safeguarding Madagascar’s little-known freshwater fishes, and has discovered 15 varieties in the course of 14 years of fieldwork on the island.
Madagascar’s freshwater fish species—like so much of its native wildlife—are found nowhere else on the planet. But the nation’s remarkable fauna and flora are at risk in the face of large-scale deforestation and other human impacts. WCS is working with the Malagasy government to set up new national parks and reserves, and assists communities in their efforts to conserve their homeland’s natural resources.
To educate and inspire the public about efforts to save this island nation’s amazing wildlife, the Bronx Zoo will open Madagascar! in 2008, a world-class exhibit in the landmark Lion House on Astor Court.
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