Decorated warbonnet

Decorated warbonnet
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Scorpaeniformes
Family:	Stichaeidae
Genus:	Chirolophis
Species:	C. decoratus
Binomial name
	Chirolophis decoratus; (Jordan & Snyder, 1902)
Synonyms
	Bryostemma decoratumJordan & Snyder, 1902;

Last updated December 29, 2023

The decorated warbonnet (Chirolophis decoratus) is a fish of the family Stichaeidae. The species name, decoratus, is a Latin word meaning ornamented.^[2] The decorated warbonnet was given its name because of the prominent cirri on its head which resembles the feathers in an Indian Chieftain's war bonnet.

Common names

Some of the C. decoratus' most common names are:^[3]

Decorated warbonnet
Decorated prickleback
Decorated blenny

Appearance

The bold cirri on its head extend continuously along its dorsal fin. More cirri project from the preoperculum, operculum, and under the lower jaw. There is some speculation as to the purpose of the cirri. It could act as camouflage to help the fish blend in with the surrounding mossy invertebrates which surround its habitat. Another possibility is that it acts as a lure for unsuspecting fish.^[3] Behind the head, the body is eel-like and can grow up to 42 cm (about 15 inches) long. Coloration is pale brown with white to cream markings, being paler below. The upper part of the body contains irregular light areas and the lower contain vertical light bars. Dark bars run from the eyes down. There are also dark bars on the dorsal fins, caudal fins, and anal fins. The large eyes and thick lips give the decorated warbonnet an almost cartoon like look. They have 61 or 62 total dorsal spines, 0 dorsal soft rays, 1 anal spine, and anywhere from 44 to 51 anal soft rays. Its caudal fin is rounded.^[4]

Habitat

The decorated warbonnet is a salt water fish which is found in the North Pacific from Kamchatka, Russia through the Aleutian Chain and the Bering Sea to the Bering Strait coasts of Alaska and Humboldt Bay, California, USA. They are a cold-water fish that tend to live in rocks, seaweed, algae, and crevices along the rocky ocean floor. The depth range is sub tidal to 91 meters. They are very shy creatures and rarely travel far from their home. They stay in their habitat for long periods of time.^[4]

Diet

The diet of the decorated warbonnet consists mainly of small invertebrates including mollusks, polychaetes, crustaceans, hydroids, and anemones. It will also eat shrimp and other small creatures which wander near its habitat.^[5]

Human uses

Because of its relative rarity and interesting appearance, the decorated warbonnet is used mainly for human enjoyment in aquariums.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Halfmoon</span> Species of sea chub

The halfmoon, also known as the blue perch, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a sea chub from the subfamily Scorpidinae, part of the family Kyphosidae. It is native to the coasts of the eastern Pacific Ocean off western North America. It is fished for using hook and line and it is a desirable food fish.

The snubnose sculpin is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. This fish is found in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

The starry flounder, also known as the grindstone, emery wheel and long-nosed flounder, is a common flatfish found around the margins of the North Pacific.

The Pacific staghorn sculpin is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. This species is found in the eastern Pacific Ocean. It is the only species in the monospecific genus Lepidocottus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow grouper</span> Species of fish

The yellow grouper, also known as the banded grouper, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It is found in eastern Asian waters of the Western Pacific Ocean. Its natural habitats are shallow seas and rocky reefs.

The blob sculpin is a species of deep-sea fish of the family Psychrolutidae. It feeds mainly on crustaceans, molluscs, and sea pens.

Cephalopholis panamensis, the Pacific graysby or Panama graysby, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is in the family Serranidae which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It is found in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.

The seaweed blenny is a species of combtooth blenny found in coral reefs in the western Atlantic Ocean along the coasts of New York, Bermuda, the Bahamas, also in the Gulf of Mexico, south to southern Brazil. This species reaches a length of 8.5 centimetres (3.3 in) TL.

Cirrhibarbis capensis, the barbelled klipfish, is a species of clinid found in subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean around South Africa. This species can reach a maximum length of 36 centimetres (14 in) TL. This species preys primarily on benthic crustaceans, mostly amphipods and isopods. It is currently the only known member of its genus.

Climacoporus navalis, the fleet klipfish, is a species of clinid found in subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean along the coast of South Africa where it can be found in tide pools. This species can reach a maximum length of 7 centimetres (2.8 in) TL. It is currently the only known member of its genus.

Blennioclinus stella, the Silverbubble klipfish, is a species of clinid found in subtropical waters of the southeastern Atlantic and western Indian Ocean along the South African coast down to a depth of about 10 metres (33 ft). This species can reach a maximum length of 5 centimetres (2.0 in) TL.

Clinus agilis, the agile klipfish, is a species of clinid found in subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean from Namibia to South Africa where it is commonly found in estuaries and tide pools. This species can reach a maximum length of 10 centimetres (3.9 in).

Clinus brevicristatus, the Cape klipfish, is a species of clinid that occurs in subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean around South Africa where it prefers habitats with plentiful growth of seaweed. This species can reach a maximum length of 12 centimetres (4.7 in) TL.

Clinocottus acuticeps, the sharpnose sculpin, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. This sculpin is found in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

Cephalopholis sexmaculata, sixblotch hind, freckled cod, freckled rock-cod, sixband cod, six-banded rockcod, sixband rockcod or sixspot rockcod is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is in the family Serranidae which also includes the anthias and sea basses. This fish occurs throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

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.

The rosy sculpin is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. It inhabits the coastal northeastern Pacific Ocean, ranging from California (US) to Baja California.

Alphestes immaculatus, the Pacific mutton hamlet, is a species of marine ray-finned fish which is classified within the subfamily Epinephelinae, the groupers, in the family Serranidae which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It is a predatory fish of the rocky coastlines of the eastern Pacific Ocean.

The fourline snakeblenny 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 Eumesogrammus. This fish is found in the Western North Atlantic, Arctic and North Pacific Oceans.

The Arctic staghorn sculpin is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. This sculpin is found in the Arctic Ocean and the northern Atlantic Ocean.

References

↑ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2022). "Chirolophis decoratus" in FishBase. February 2022 version.
↑ Denning, David. "A Fish With A Furry Head". BioMEDIA ASSOCIATES. Archived from the original on 2012-04-15. Retrieved 29 November 2011.
1 2 Stang, David. "Chirolophis decoratus (Decorated Prickleback)". ZipcodeZoo.com.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
1 2 "Chirolophis Decoratus". SearchFish.org. Archived from the original on 2012-04-26. Retrieved 29 November 2011.
↑ Robson, Collins (October 1967). "First Record of the Decorated Warbonnet, Chirolophis Decoratus (Jordan and Snyder 1902), In California Waters" (PDF). California Fish and Game. 62 (4): 326. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-25. Retrieved 29 November 2011.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[Fishbase-1] Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2022). "Chirolophis decoratus" in FishBase. February 2022 version.

[beginning-2] Denning, David. "A Fish With A Furry Head". BioMEDIA ASSOCIATES. Archived from the original on 2012-04-15. Retrieved 29 November 2011.

[second-3] 1 2 Stang, David. "Chirolophis decoratus (Decorated Prickleback)". ZipcodeZoo.com.^{[ permanent dead link ]}

[third-4] 1 2 "Chirolophis Decoratus". SearchFish.org. Archived from the original on 2012-04-26. Retrieved 29 November 2011.

[fourth-5] Robson, Collins (October 1967). "First Record of the Decorated Warbonnet, Chirolophis Decoratus (Jordan and Snyder 1902), In California Waters" (PDF). California Fish and Game. 62 (4): 326. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-25. Retrieved 29 November 2011.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]