| Bovichtus variegatus | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Bovichtidae |
| Genus: | Bovichtus |
| Species: | B. variegatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Bovichtus variegatus J. Richardson, 1846 | |
Bovichtus variegatus, the thornfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Bovichtidae, the temperate icefishes or thornfishes. It is endemic to New Zealand. [1]
Bovichtus variegatus was first formally described in 1846 by the Scottish naval surgeon, naturalist and Arctic explorer Sir John Richardson with the type locality given as Port Jackson in New South Wales, [2] probably erroneously because this species has not been recorded in Australia since. [3] The specific name variegatus means "variable" and was given to emphasise how the markings of this fish differ from those of B. diacanthus . [4]
Bovichtus variegatus has a body which is completely lacking scales with a broad, flattened head. [5] They have large, [3] upward pointing eyes and a broad mouth. They have a robust upward and backwards pointing spine on each gill cover to the rear of the eyes. There is a double dorsal fin, the first one is short and spiny, [5] the number of spines being between 7 and 9, although 8 is most frequent count, while the second dorsal fin contains 18-20 soft rays. The anal fin contains13-15 soft rays. [3] The rays of the pelvic, pectoral and anal fins are robust and the fishes use them as props when resting on a substrate. The colour of the fins and the body is variable and they may be mottled with red, green, orange, pink and white patches on a background colour which varies from olive brown to silvery red. This species grows to 15 to 25 cm (5.9 to 9.8 in) in length. [5]
Bovichtus variegatus is endemic to New Zealand where it is found from the southern coasts of the North Island with its northern limits at New Plymouth on the west coast and Tokomaru Bay on the east coast south to the Auckland Islands. Thornfishes are common in tidal pools and on rocky reefs in shallow waters, particularly in the more southerly parts of its range. It has been recorded no deeper than 9 m (30 ft). [3]
Bovichtus variegatus is a predatory species, preying on crustaceans and worms. Its mottled colour pattern appears to be a very effective camouflage in its tidal pool habitat. [5]
Notothenia microlepidota, the black cod or small-scaled cod, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, belonging to the family Nototheniidae, the notothens or cod icefishes. It is native to the Pacific waters around New Zealand and Macquarie Island. This species can reach a total length of 70 cm (28 in). It is a commercially important species.
The porae, the grey morwong, blue morwong, butterfish, Douglas' morwong, Eastern blue morwong, great perch, queen snapper, rubberlip morwong or silver morwong, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, traditionally regarded as belonging to the family Cheilodactylidae, the members of which are commonly known as morwongs. It is found around south eastern Australia and the north eastern coast of the North Island of New Zealand at depths of about 10 to 100 metres, on sandy and rocky coasts.
Chironemus is a genus of marine ray finned fish, commonly known as kelpfishes, belonging to the family Chironemidae. They are found in the temperate waters of the Southern Pacific Ocean.
Bovichtidae, the temperate icefishes or thornfishes, is a family of marine ray-finned fishes, classified in the suborder Notothenioidei of the order Perciformes. They are native to coastal waters off Australia, New Zealand, and South America.
The magpie perch, magpie morwong or black-striped morwong, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, traditionally regarded as belonging to the family Cheilodactylidae, the members of which are commonly known as morwongs. It is found off southern Australia and northern New Zealand from shallow depths to 250 m (820 ft).
Helicolenus percoides, the reef ocean perch, coral cod, coral perch, Jock Stewart, kuriarki, ocean perch, red gurnard perch, red gurnard scorpionfish, red ocean perch, red perch, red rock perch, scarpee or sea perch, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the subfamily Sebastinae, part of the family Scorpaenidae. It is found in the southwestern Pacific Ocean.
The marbled rockcod is a species of marine ray-finned fish, belonging to the family Nototheniidae, the notothens or cod icefishes. It is native to the Southern Ocean, where it can be found at depths from 5 to 350 m. This is a commercially important species.
The Brazilian snapper, is a species of snapper native to the tropical waters of the Atlantic off the coast of Brazil.
The coral hawkfish, the pixy hawkfish or sharp-headed hawkfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a hawkfish belonging to the family Cirrhitidae. It is native to tropical reefs of the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. It occasionally is found in the aquarium trade.
Chionodraco hamatus is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Channichthyidae, the crocodile icefishes. It is found in the Southern Ocean.
Bovichtus is a genus of fish in the family Bovichtidae found in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Ocean.
Cottoperca is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Bovichtidae, the temperate icefishes or thornfishes. They are found in the southeastern Pacific, southwestern Atlantic and northern Southern Oceans off southern South America.
Chirodactylus is a genus of marine ray-finned fish, traditionally regarded as belonging to the family Cheilodactylidae, the members of which are commonly known as morwongs. They are native to the Atlantic, Indian and eastern Pacific oceans off southern Africa and South America.
The splendid hawkfish, also known as mottled hawkfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a hawkfish belonging to the family Cirrhitidae. It is found on tropical reefs of the Pacific Ocean.
The dusky spinefoot, also known as the squaretail rabbitfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a rabbitfish belonging to the family Siganidae. It is native to the western Indian Ocean which has spread to the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal. Its fin spines contain venom. It is regarded as a food fish.
Haemulon scudderii, the grey grunt, golden-eye grunt, or mojarra grunt, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grunt belonging to the family Haemulidae. It is found in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
Sebastes dallii, the calico rockfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the subfamily Sebastinae, the rockfishes, part of the family Scorpaenidae. It is found in the eastern central Pacific Ocean.
Bovictus diacanthus, the Tristan klipfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a temperate icefish or thornfish, belonging to the family Bovichtidae. It is endemic to two isolated, small island groups in the South Atlantic.
Bovichtus angustifrons, the dragonet, horny, horny thornfish, marblefish, thornfish or variegated marblefish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a temperate icefish or thornfish, belonging to the family Bovichtidae. It is endemic to southeastern Australia and Tasmania on rocky reefs in shallow waters.
Askoldia is a monotypic genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Stichaeidae, the pricklebacks and shannies. Its only species is Askoldia variegata which is found in the northwestern Pacific Ocean.