| Howella atlantica | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Howellidae |
| Genus: | Howella |
| Species: | H. atlantica |
| Binomial name | |
| Howella atlantica Post & Quéro, 1991 | |
Howella atlantica, commonly known as the Atlantic pelagic basslet and the Atlantic pricklefish, [1] is a species of teleost fish in the oceanic basslet family Howellidae. [2]
As suggested by its specific name, Howella atlantica is found in the Atlantic Ocean, found in across all latitudes of the North Atlantic but restricted to tropical waters in the South Atlantic. It is present in both the Western and Eastern Atlantic. [3]
H. atlantica is an inhabitant of deep, open waters between about 100 and 1,800 m (330 and 5,910 ft), typically residing in the mesopelagic between 100 and 1,100 m (330 and 3,610 ft). [3]
Howella atlantica is a small, fish with large eyes and robust spines in its first dorsal fin. It is generally dark in colour, with black scales, possibly with a greenish sheen, that have a spinous anterior margin. The head is unscaled, and is covered in skin that is dark with a metallic blue hint under illumination. At the rear margin of the opercle, there is a cluster of two spines. Its lateral line is divided into three distinct segments. [4]
The first dorsal fin is composed of 7-8 rigid spines, with the first spine much shorter than the second; [4] the second dorsal fin has 10-11 soft rays. The anal fin also possesses three spines, with 7-8 soft rays. H. atlantica reaches a standard length of about 7.5 cm (3.0 in), however may be found larger than this in high latitudes; by contrast, smaller individuals are found in tropical seas. [3]
The eyes of Howella are large, as is common among mesopelagic fishes. There is a thick corneal spectacle visible in fresh specimens as a gelatinous layer that somewhat obscures the pupil. An aphakic gap is present between the iris and the lens on the anterior margin of the pupil. In fresh specimens, the retina has a distinct gold colour. Below the retina there is a reflective tapetum lucidum composed of white lipid spheres, similar to the tapeta found in weakfishes and cusk-eels. The retina contains orderly rows of rod cells. [5]
Little is known about the trophic ecology of Howella atlantica. Two species of melanostomiine dragonfish, Eustomias acinosus and E. filifer , are specialist predators of H. atlantica [6] .
The tapetum lucidum is a layer of tissue in the eye of many vertebrates and some other animals. Lying immediately behind the retina, it is a retroreflector. It reflects visible light back through the retina, increasing the light available to the photoreceptors. The tapetum lucidum contributes to the superior night vision of some animals. Many of these animals are nocturnal, especially carnivores, while others are deep sea animals.
Sabertooth or sabretooth fish are small, fierce-looking deep-sea aulopiform fish comprising the family Evermannellidae. The family is small, with just eight species in three genera represented; they are distributed throughout tropical to subtropical waters of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans.
Hyporhamphus ihi, the known as the garfish, piper or by its Māori name takeke, is a halfbeak found all around New Zealand in shallow inshore waters.
This glossary of ichthyology is a list of definitions of terms and concepts used in ichthyology, the study of fishes.
Howella is a genus of fish in the family Howellidae, the oceanic basslets. They are found in all oceans.
The bigeye sand tiger is an extremely rare species of mackerel shark in the family Odontaspididae, with a possible worldwide distribution. A large, bulky species reaching at least 3.6 m (12 ft) in length, the bigeye sand tiger has a long bulbous snout, large orange eyes without nictitating membranes, and a capacious mouth with the narrow teeth prominently exposed. It can be distinguished from the similar smalltooth sand tiger by its teeth, which have only one lateral cusplet on each side, and by its uniformly dark brown color.
The whitefin trevally, also known as the horse trevally, is a species of deep water offshore fish in the jack family Carangidae. The species inhabits the tropical to temperate waters of the Indo-Pacific and central Pacific, ranging from South Africa in the west to Hawaii in the east. The whitefin trevally is a moderate-sized fish, growing to 37 cm, and is distinguished by a number of morphological traits, including fin size, gill raker count, and colour. It inhabits the continental shelf and slope at depths to 200 m over sand and mud substrates, where it preys on fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods. Studies in Japan indicate a length at sexual maturity of 17.4 cm on average, with spawning occurring between May and October, with each individual spawning multiple times. Whitefin trevallies are of high importance to fisheries in Japan, where they are taken by trawlers, although the catch numbers have halved since the 1980s. It is of minor importance elsewhere throughout its range, but is considered a good table fish.
Pseudanthias huchtii, the red cheek fairy basslet, threadfin anthias or Pacific basslet is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a member of the genus Pseudanthias which is part of the subfamily Anthiinae, which in turn is part of the family Serranidae, the groupers and sea basses. It comes from the Western Central Pacific Ocean. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 12 cm in length.
Liopropoma rubre, the peppermint bass or swissguard basslet, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, related to the groupers and classified within the subfamily Epinephelinae of the family Serranidae. It is found in the western Atlantic Ocean. This species is utilised in the aquarium trade.
Scorpaena azorica, the Azores scorpionfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. This fish occurs in the Northeastern Atlantic region in European waters. This fish is found in demersal and marine environments in subtropical waters, generally on hard bottoms. The maximum recorded length is 9.8 centimetres (3.9 in).
Blennophis anguillaris, the snaky klipfish, is a species of clinid found in the subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean around South Africa. It can be found in the subtidal zone and also is a denizen of tidepools. This species can reach a maximum length of 30 centimetres (12 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).
The scamp grouper, also known as scamp, 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 the western Atlantic Ocean.
The plainchin dreamarm is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Oneirodidae, the dreamers, a family of deep sea anglerfishes. It is the only species in the monospecific genus Leptacanthichthys. This species occurs in the North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans at depths down to 2,000 m (6,600 ft).
Argyropelecus affinis is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Sternoptychidae, found in the tropical and subtropical Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. Common names for this fish include Pacific hatchetfish, deepsea hatchetfish and slender hatchetfish. It inhabits the mesopelagic zone and is either non-migratory or performs short daily vertical migrations.
The Azores chromis or Atlantic chromis is a species of damselfish from the family Pomacentridae which is found in the Macaronesian Islands of the temperate eastern Atlantic Ocean and has been reported from coastal regions of western Africa.
Pteragogus trispilus is a species of marine ray-finned fish from the wrasse family, the Labridae. It is native to the Red Sea from where it has entered the Mediterranean Sea.
Jeboehlkia is a monotypic genus of marine ray-finned fish, related to the groupers and classified within the subfamily Epinephelinae of the family Serranidae. It is a species of relatively deep water which is found in the western Atlantic Ocean. The only species in the genus is Jeboehlkia gladifer, the bladefin bass.
Argyropelecus olfersii is a common species of marine hatchetfish, found in mesopelagic waters.
Scopelarchus guentheri, commonly known as the staring pearleye, is a mesopelagic fish known for its unique visual system consisting of two retinas in each eye as well as a distinctive 'pearl organ' found inside each eye. Like other fish in the genus Scopelarchus, S. guentheri has an opaque colored body.
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