Pholidichthys leucotaenia
| Pholidichthys leucotaenia | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Pholidichthyidae |
| Genus: | Pholidichthys |
| Species: | P. leucotaenia |
| Binomial name | |
| Pholidichthys leucotaenia Bleeker, 1856[1] |
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| Synonyms | |
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Brotulophis argentistriatus Kaup, 1858[1] |
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Pholidichthys leucotaenia, commonly known as the convict blenny/goby or the engineer blenny/goby, is a marine fish from the Western Central Pacific. It is neither a blenny nor a goby but is in fact one of two species in the family Pholidichthyidae.
[edit] Description
A small eel-shaped fish which can grow up to 60 centimetres (24 in) in length. Juveniles resemble the striped catfish Plotosus lineatus, which is venomous, having a black body with a white dorsal stripe. As they develop, the stripe changes to white convict-style barring or spotting in the adult.
[edit] Ecology
Lives in shallow lagoons and on coastal reefs from the Philippines to the Solomon Islands. It is often found in schools under ledges or around coral heads. These schools swim in such tight formations that they resemble a single organism. Occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade, where it is known for disrupting all but the most stable structures.[2]
DNA analyses suggest this species is neither a blenny nor a goby, but part of a separate fish family, the Pholidichthyidae.
In the Solomon Islands, researchers under Eugenie Clark, found juveniles emerging from holes in the seafloor and adjoining coral reefs. By day these juveniles swim up to 50 metres (55 yd) from their home burrows to feed on plankton. At the end of the day all returned to the burrows, remarkable and unique behaviour for larval fish.
While their young are out feeding, the parents busy themselves with housekeeping chores, ejecting mouthfuls of debris from the burrows. Research has revealed a maze of tunnels and chambers totalling a length of some six meters. At night young fish dangled by their mouths from the roof of the tunnels by thin mucous threads.
Adults may grow to almost 60 centimetres (24 in),[3] but never leave the tunnels to feed. They frequently take in mouthfuls of juveniles and spit them out again. An inspection of adult stomachs showed only a green slime.[3]
[edit] References
- Springer, Victor G.; Freihofer, Warren C. (1976). "Study of the monotypic fish family Pholidichthyidae (Perciformes)". Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology (Washington, D.C: Smithsonian Institution Press) (216): 1–43. http://hdl.handle.net/10088/5213.
- ^ a b Bailly, N. (2010). "Pholidichthys leucotaenia Bleeker, 1856". In Nicolas Bailly. FishBase. World Register of Marine Species. http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=282242. Retrieved 2011-12-20.
- ^ Fenner, Bob. "Convict Blennies, Family Pholidichthyidae". Wet Web Media.com. http://www.wetwebmedia.com/pholodichthyidae.htm. Retrieved 2011-03-13.
- ^ a b Kaufmann, Carol (June 2005). "Research & Exploration: Clues From a Convict". National Geographic Interactive Edition. National Geographic Society. http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0506/resources_cre.html.
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