Caprichthys

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Caprichthys
Caprichthys gymnura.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Tetraodontiformes
Family: Aracanidae
Genus: Caprichthys
McCulloch & Waite, 1915
Species:
C. gymnura
Binomial name
Caprichthys gymnura
McCulloch & Waite, 1915

Caprichthys is a monospecific genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Aracanidae, the deepwater boxfishes or temperate boxfishes. The only species in the genus is the rigid boxfish (Caprichthys gymnura), also known as the black-spotted boxfish or ornate pigmy boxfish which is endemic to southwestern Australia.

Contents

Taxonomy

Caprichthys was first proposed as a monospecific genus in 1915 by the Australian ichthyologists Allan Riverstone McCulloch and Edgar Ravenswood Waite when they described its only species, Caprichthys gymnura. [2] The type locality of C. gymnura was given as Southwestern Australia. [3] The exact type localities were given as Doubtful Island Bay at 20 to 25 fathoms (120 to 150 ft; 37 to 46 m) and between Cape Naturaliste and Geraldton. [4] The 5th edition of Fishes of the World classifies this taxon in the family Aracanidae which is in the suborder Ostracioidea within the order Tetraodontiformes. [5]

Etymology

Caprichthys compounds capros, meaning "wild boar", with ichthys, which means "fish", the first part relates this taxon to the genera Capropygia and Anoplocapros , although it is distinguished from those taxa by having a "naked tail". The specific name, gymnura, means "naked tail" , an allusion to the absence of any bands of bony scales on the caudal peduncle. [6]

Description

Caprichthys has a short, round body which is deep and has a nearly hexagonal cross section with ridges on the midline of the back and belly and two ridges, an upper and a lower one, on the flanks. There is sometimes a small flattened spine above each eye. The head is moderately small with a straight dorsal profile . The eyes are small and are set high on the head. The small mouth is set at the end of the snout and has fleshy lips and long curved teeth, each jaw having one row of teeth. The body is encased in a stiff carapace consisting of large, hexagonal scales, each plate being sculpted with fine tubercles which join the scales together. There are no or very few isolated large scales on the caudal peduncle. There is a single dorsal fin, with 12 or 13 soft rays, located far back on the body and has a short base. The anal fin is opposite the dorsal fin and has 12 soft rays. The caudal fin is rounded and the small fan-like pectoral fins contain 12 soft rays. The colour of the males is creamy white to yellowish tan with thick dark sinuous horizontal lines and spots on the back, belly and caudal peduncle. The females have a yellowish tan to creamy white overall colour with very small black spots along the ridges on the flanks close to the bases of the spines. [7] The rigid boxfish has a maximum published total length of 11 cm (4.3 in). [8]

Distribution and habitat

Caprichthys is endemic to southwestern Australia where itis found in the western part of the Great Australian Bight off the east of Evans Island west around the southwestern coast of Western Australia north to Kalbarri. It is found on offshore reefs and areas of softer sediments, [7] at depths between 40 and 200 m (130 and 660 ft). [8] Individuals collected form tide pools in southern Western Australia are presumed to have been stranded during storms. [7]

Related Research Articles

<i>Ostracion</i> Genus of fishes

Ostracion is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Ostraciidae, the boxfishes. These fishes are found in the Indo-Pacific region as far east as the eastern Pacific coasts of the Americas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aracanidae</span> Family of fishes

Aracanidae, the deep sea boxfishes or temperate boxfishes, are a family of marine ray-finned fishes belonong to the order Tetraodontiformes, which also includes the pufferfishes, triggerfishes and ocean sunfishes. The fishes in this family are found in the Indo-West Pacific region, particularly in the waters around Australia.

<i>Capropygia</i> Monospecific genus of fish

Capropygia is a monospecific genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Aracanidae, the deepwater boxfishes or temperate boxfishes. The only species in the genus is the black-banded pigmy boxfish, also known as the spiny boxfish which is endemic to southern Australia.

<i>Kentrocapros</i> Genus of fishes

Kentrocapros is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Aracanidae, the deepwater boxfishes or temperate boxfishes. These fishes are found in the coastal waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Polyplacapros is a monospecific genus of ray-finned fish beloning to the family Aracanidae, the temperate boxfishes or deep water boxfishes. The only species in the genus is Polyplacapros tyleri, Tyler's boxfish, which is found in the southwestern Pacific Ocean.

<i>Lactophrys</i> Genus of fishes

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Paracanthostracion is a monospecific genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ostraciidae, the boxfishes. The only species in the genus is Paracanthostracion lindsayi, Lindsay's boxfish, which is found in the Southwestern Pacific Ocean.

<i>Tetrosomus</i> Genus of fishes

Tetrosomus is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Ostraciidae, the boxfishes. The fishes in this genus are known as turretfishes and they are found in the Indian and western Pacific Oceans.

<i>Ostracion rhinorhynchos</i> Species of fish

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<i>Aracana ornata</i> Species of fish

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<i>Aracana aurita</i> Species of fish

Aracana aurita, the Shaw's cowfish, painted boxfish, southern cowfish or striped cowfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Aracanidae, the deepwater boxfishes or temperate boxfishes. This species is endemic to the seas off southern Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shortnose boxfish</span> Species of fish

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<i>Anoplocapros lenticularis</i> Species of fish

Anoplocapros lenticularis, the white-barred boxfish, flame boxfish, high-backed boxfish, humpback boxfish, humpty dumpty or smooth boxfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Aracanidae, the deepwater boxfishes or temperate boxfishes. This fish is endemic to the seas of southern and western Australia.

<i>Lactoria diaphana</i> Species of fish

Lactoria diaphana, the roundbelly cowfish, diaphonous cowfish, many-spined cowfish, spiny cowfish or transparent cowfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ostraciidae, the boxfishes. This fish is found in the southeastern Atlantic Ocean and the Indo-Pacific.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western smooth boxfish</span> Species of fish

The Western smooth boxfish, also known as the blue boxfish or robust boxfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Aracanidae, the deep water boxfishes or temperate boxfishes. This fish is endemic to the seas of southwestern Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern smooth boxfish</span> Species of fish

The Eastern smooth boxfish, also known as the chubby basketfish, freckled boxfish, golden boxfish, polled boxfish, robust boxfish or white-barred boxfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Aracanidae, the deepwater boxfishes or tempereate boxfishes. This fish is endemic to the seas of southeastern Australia.

Kentrocapros flavofasciatus, the yellowstriped boxfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Aracanidae, the temperate boxfishes or deepwater boxfishes. This species has an antitropical distribution in the northern and southwestern Pacific Ocean.

Kentrocapros flavimaculatus is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Aracanidae, the temperate boxfishes or deepwater boxfishes. This species is found in the southwestern Pacific Ocean around New Zealand and was first formally described in 2023.

Kentrocapros spilonotus, the Hawaiian basketfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Aracanidae, the temperate boxfishes or deepwater boxfishes. This species is known from two places in the Hawaiian Islands, one near Laysan and the other is the Penguin Bank.

<i>Ostracion trachys</i> Species of fish

Ostracion trachys, the rough boxfish or roughskin trunkfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ostraciidae, the boxfishes. It is found in the Western Indian Ocean around the Mascarenes.

References

  1. ↑ Matsuura, K.; Amaoka, K. & Carpenter, K.E. (2020). "Caprichthys gymnura". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T162918261A162918284. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T162918261A162918284.en . Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  2. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Aracanidae". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  3. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Caprichthys". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  4. ↑ Allan R. McCulloch and Edgar R. Waite. "A revision of the genus Aracana and its allies" (PDF). Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia. 39: 477–493.
  5. ↑ Nelson, J.S.; Grande, T.C.; Wilson, M.V.H. (2016). Fishes of the World (5th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. pp. 518–526. doi:10.1002/9781119174844. ISBN   978-1-118-34233-6. LCCN   2015037522. OCLC   951899884. OL   25909650M.
  6. ↑ Christopher Scharpf (21 August 2024). "Order TETRAODONTIFORMES: Families MOLIDAE, BALISTIDAE, MONACANTHIDAE, ARACANIDAE and OSTRACIIDAE". Christopher Scharpf. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  7. 1 2 3 Bray, D.J. (2023). "Caprichthys gymnura". Fishes of Australia. Museums Victoria. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  8. 1 2 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Caprichthys gymnura". FishBase . June 2024 version.
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