| Crescent gunnel | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Scorpaeniformes |
| Family: | Pholidae |
| Genus: | Pholis |
| Species: | P. laeta |
| Binomial name | |
| Pholis laeta (Cope, 1873) | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
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The crescent gunnel (Pholis laeta), also known as the bracketed blenny, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Pholidae, the gunnels. This fish occurs in the shallow coastal waters of the eastern North Pacific Ocean.
The crescent gunnel was first formally described in 1873 by the American paleontologist and biologist Edward Drinker Cope with the type locality given as Sitka or Unalaska in Alaska. [2] The specific name laeta means "joyful", "glad" or "pleasant", Cope did not explain his choice of this name but did refer to the types as “rather brilliantly colored” specimens. [3]
Pholis laeta, like other gunnels, is somewhat eel-like. It grows to a maximum total length of 25 cm (9.8 in). The dorsal fin contains between 74 and 80 spines and the anal fin contains 35 to 37. soft rays. The caudal fin is rounded and the pelvic fins are tiny. [1] There are two rows of blackish crescent-shaped markings each with a yellow spot in the their centers along the back, and these identify this species from other gunnels. The overall color of the body may vary from orange-brown to olive-green, the color being camouflage and color phases vary with habitat. [4]
The crescent gunnel is found in the eastern Pacific along the western coast of North America from the Bering Sea coast of Alaska through the Aleutian Islands south as far as Crescent City in northern California. Pholis laeta lives in shallow, marine areas. It may also be found out of water under seaweed or rocks. It is known to live in the demersal zone at depths of up to 73 metres. This fish is common in such habitats as tide pools and in intertidal environments and may be found under rocks that are protected by seaweed. [1]
The crescent gunnel reach sexual maturity at approximately 10 cm (3.9 in) in length. The females lay masses of 600 to 1,600 eggs in late winter, January and February. The demersal eggs stick to each other and to the substrate and are sometimes guarded by one of the parents. They hatch into larvae after 2 months and join the plankton. In Alaska colder water temperatures can delay breeding. They can live for up to 6 years. [5]
The crescent gunnels likely eats marine worms as well as small species of crustacean. [1] It is an important prey item for larger vertebrate predators and these include great blue heron (Ardea herodias), pigeon guillemot (Cepphus columba), North American river otter (Lontra canadensis), American mink (Mustela vison), and larger fishes. However, have been found to be a lower quality food for pigeon guillemot chicks and pairs that caught a high number of crescent gunnels do not show high reproductive success. These fishes hide in rockpools or tiny crevices under rocks or in vegetation, they may even emerge fully from water at low tide, and are apparently able to breathe air not submerged. [5]
The viviparous eelpout, also known as the, viviparous blenny and European eelpout is species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Zoarcidae, the eelpouts. It is notable for being ovoviviparous and gives birth to live larvae. It is a common soup ingredient in Mediterranean countries. The bones are of greenish colour, due to a harmless pigment. Their skin is slimy and the colour is variable.
Anarhichadidae, the wolffishes, sea wolves or wolf eels, is a family of marine ray finned fishes belonging to the order Scorpaeniformes. These are predatory, eel shaped fishes which are native to the cold waters of the Arctic, North Pacific and North Atlantic Oceans.
Pholidae is a family of marine ray-finned fishes, known as gunnels, in the scorpaeniform suborder Zoarcoidei. These are fishes of the littoral zone and are mainly found in North Pacific Ocean, with two species found in the North Atlantic Ocean and Arctic Ocean.
Bathymaster signatus, the searcher, is species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Bathymasteridae, the ronquils. This species is found in the northern Pacific Ocean.
Anarhichas is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Anarhichadidae, the wolffishes or sea wolves. These fishes are found in the northern North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans.
The pygmy rockfish, also known as the slender rockfish or Wilson's 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 Pacific Ocean.
The penpoint gunnel is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Pholidae, the gunnels. This fish occurs in the eastern North Pacific Ocean.
Lipophrys pholis, commonly known as shanny, also known as the smooth blenny or common blenny, is a species of combtooth blenny. It matures at two years of age. Distributed in the Eastern Atlantic from the southern Norway to Morocco and Madeira, including the Mediterranean and the Balearics. Lipophrys pholis feed primarily on crustaceans, but also feed on other invertebrates and plants.
Montagu's blenny, also known as the capuchin blenny, is a species of combtooth blenny found in the intertidal zones of the eastern Atlantic ocean from England to Madeira and the Canary Islands as well the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. This species prefers rocky shores with much wave action. This species grows to a length of 7.6 centimetres (3.0 in) SL. It is the only species in the genus Coryphoblennius.
Pholis fasciata, the banded gunnel, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Pholidae, the gunnels. It is found in the North Pacific, Arctic and western North Atlantic Oceans. Very little is known about its life cycle or reproduction.
Clinocottus globiceps, the mosshead sculpin or globe-headed sculpin, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. This sculpin is found in the northeastern Pacific.
Bathymaster is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Bathymasteridae, the ronquils. These fishes are found in the northern Pacific Ocean.
The rock gunnel, or butterfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Pholidae, the gunnels. This species is found in the coastal waters of the North Atlantic Ocean and in the Atlantic part of the Arctic Ocean.
The rockweed gunnel, also known as the Fucus blenny, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Pholidae, the gunnels. This species is found in the eastern North Pacific Ocean.
Sebastes taczanowskii, the white-edged rockfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the subfamily Sebastinae, the rockfishes, part of the family Scorpaenidae. It is native to the northwestern Pacific Ocean from northern Japan and far eastern Russia, it has also been reported from Korea. This species was first formally described in 1880 by the Austrian ichthyologist Franz Steindachner with the type locality given as Northern Japan. The identity of the person honoutred in its specific name is not certain but is thought likely to be the Polish zoologist Władysław Taczanowski, who possibly gave Steindachner the type which had been collected by another Polish zoologist, Benedykt Dybowski. Some authorities place this species in the subgenus Mebarus.This demersal fish is found in shallow waters near coasts and will enter estuaries and the juveniles live among floating seaweed. It is an ovoviviparous species. This species attains a maximum total length of 32 cm (13 in).
The saddleback gunnel, also known as the saddled blenny, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Pholidae, the gunnels. This fish occurs in the shallow coastal waters of the eastern North Pacific Ocean.
Pholis is a genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Pholidae, the gunnels. These fishes are found in shallow coastal waters of the North Pacific, Arctic and North Atlantic Oceans.
The stippled gunnel is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Pholidae, the gunnels. It is the only species in the monospecific genus Rhodymenichthys. It is found in the northern North Pacific Ocean.
The kelp gunnel is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Pholidae, the gunnels. It is the only species in the monospecific genus Ulvicola. It is found in the eastern North Pacific Ocean.
The radiated shanny is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Stichaeidae, the pricklebacks and shannies. It is the only species in the monotypic genus Ulvaria. This fish is found in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean.
