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Bellapiscis medius

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bellapiscis medius
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Blenniiformes
Family: Tripterygiidae
Genus: Bellapiscis
Species:
B. medius
Binomial name
Bellapiscis medius
(Günther, 1861)
Synonyms
  • Tripterygium medium Günther, 1861
  • Enneapterygius medium (Günther, 1861)
  • Helcogramma medium (Günther, 1861)

Bellapiscis medius, the twister, is a triplefin fish of the family Tripterygiidae, commonly found around the coast of New Zealand.[2] Its length is between 5 and 10 cm.[3]

Habitat

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This species is the only triplefin that as an adult lives in intertidal zone habitat.[4] It can be observed in tidal pools and has adapted to survive the changes in temperature, oxygen saturation and levels of water acidity that accompany living in that habitat.[4] The abundance of this fish in tidal pools decreases during the winter months.[5]

Prey

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B. medius feeds on small crustaceans including barnacles, molluscs including snails, and amphipods.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Clements, K.D. (2014). "Bellapiscis medius". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T178948A1551471. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T178948A1551471.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. ^ Ayling, Tony; Cox, Geoffrey J. (1982). Collins guide to the sea fishes of New Zealand. Auckland [N.Z.]: Collins. ISBN 0-00-216987-8. OCLC 9506630.
  3. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Bellapiscis medius". FishBase. November 2005 version.
  4. ^ a b c Carson, Sally F.; Morris, Rod (2017). Collins field guide to the New Zealand seashore. Auckland, New Zealand: HarperCollins. p. 307. ISBN 978-1-77554-010-6. OCLC 1012909625.
  5. ^ Willis, Trevor J.; Roberts, Clive D. (1996). "Recolonisation and recruitment of fishes to intertidal rockpools at Wellington, New Zealand". Environmental Biology of Fishes. 47 (4): 329–343. doi:10.1007/BF00005047. S2CID 40418986 – via Researchgate.