Hypoplectrus gummigutta | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Perciformes |
Family: | Serranidae |
Subfamily: | Serraninae |
Genus: | Hypoplectrus |
Species: | H. gummigutta |
Binomial name | |
Hypoplectrus gummigutta (Poey, 1852) | |
Synonyms [2] | |
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Hypoplectrus gummigutta, commonly called the golden hamlet, is a species of marine ray-finned fish. They are sea bass from the subfamily Serraninae and the greater family Serranidae, which also includes the groupers and anthias. The golden hamlet was first described in 1852 by zoologist Felipe Poey (1799-1891) as Plectropoma gummigutta before being given its accepted name: Hypoplectrus gummigutta. [3] It is found in the western Atlantic Ocean and occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. [2]
The golden hamlet is morphologically similar to all other hamlets. [4] [5] It has a laterally compressed head with a short snout and a straight forehead. The single dorsal fin has 14–17 rays. It has long pelvic fins and a slightly forked caudal fin. [6] The head, body, and fins are golden-yellow. On the head, there are typically one or more possibly large dark spots bordered by iridescent blue. [7] Sometimes their back is colored grey. [8] The species has a maximum recorded length of 13.2 centimeters (5.20 in). [9]
Hamlets are tropical fish found only in the western Atlantic Ocean, specifically in the Caribbean, off the coast of Brazil, and in the Gulf of Mexico. [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] H. gummigutta, however, does not have as wide of a distribution as the rest of its genus. In one study, they were shown to be one of the least widely distributed species of the genus. [11] H. gummigutta were once thought to be absent from Mexico and rare in the Dominican Republic, though this has been disproven. [13] Rather, they are rare in Puerto Rico and Mexico, but relatively common in the Dominican Republic. [11] As a whole, they are rarely found east of the Mona Passage, which cuts across the space between Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. [14]
Hypoplectrus gummigutta are tropical coral reef fish not found outside the western Atlantic Ocean. [5] [11] They tend to stay close to the bottom and may hide in crevices when not swimming. [14] Though similar in many ways to the other members of the Hypoplectrus genus, H. gummigutta differs in that they are found at greater depths than other hamlets, sometimes at more than 25 meters (82 ft). [8]
Golden hamlets are predatory carnivores with a diet similar to other hamlets, consisting of small reef-dwelling fishes and invertebrates. [5] [8] [10] [15] Crustaceans, such as shrimp and crabs, make up most of their diet. [5]
H. gummigutta, like the other members of the Hypoplectrus genus, are simultaneous hermaphrodites. They simultaneously have both male and female sex organs and produce both sperm and eggs. [10] However, they do not self-fertilize, like some other simultaneous hermaphrodites. [16] Instead, they mate by pairing with another H. gummigutta and switching between the male and female role. [16] To initiate a mating, one hamlet assumes the female role and advertises its eggs, offering them up for fertilization in exchange for the chance to fertilize another's eggs. This phenomenon is known as egg-trading. [16] The two hamlets alternate roles several times, releasing their eggs gradually to ensure reciprocal fertilization. [17] This courtship is somewhat dance-like and lasts around an hour. [17] Hamlets spawn daily in the late afternoon, just before sunset. [10] [17] H. gummigutta displays no parental care; fertilization is external and takes place after eggs are released into the water, where they disperse and grow into larvae. Larvae are planktonic. [16] [18]
Golden hamlets exhibit color-assortative mating, choosing to mate primarily with those of the same species, as demarcated by color pattern. [10] [19] Despite mating preference, no reproductive barrier exists between different species of hamlets mating. [5] [19] Hamlet hybridization is not common, but does occasionally occur, resulting in an offspring with a color pattern between those of its parents. [5] [8]
It has been hypothesized that hybridization of the golden and black hamlets generated the shy, yellowbelly, and yellowtail hamlets. [7] However, there is currently no evidence for this, and it is considered very unlikely. [7]
Serranidae is a large family of fishes belonging to the order Perciformes. The family contains about 450 species in 65 genera, including the sea basses and the groupers. Although many species are small, in some cases less than 10 cm (3.9 in), the giant grouper is one of the largest bony fishes in the world, growing to 2.7 m in length and 400 kg (880 lb) in weight. Representatives of this group live in tropical and subtropical seas worldwide.
Gobiidae or gobies is a family of bony fish in the order Gobiiformes, one of the largest fish families comprising more than 2,000 species in more than 200 genera. Most of gobiid fish are relatively small, typically less than 10 cm (3.9 in) in length, and the family includes some of the smallest vertebrates in the world, such as Trimmatom nanus and Pandaka pygmaea, Trimmatom nanus are under 1 cm long when fully grown, then Pandaka pygmaea standard length are 9 mm (0.35 in), maximum known standard length are 11 mm (0.43 in). Some large gobies can reach over 30 cm (0.98 ft) in length, but that is exceptional. Generally, they are benthic or bottom-dwellers. Although few are important as food fish for humans, they are of great significance as prey species for other commercially important fish such as cod, haddock, sea bass and flatfish. Several gobiids are also of interest as aquarium fish, such as the dartfish of the genus Ptereleotris. Phylogenetic relationships of gobiids have been studied using molecular data.
Hypoplectrus is a genus of fishes commonly known as hamlets, found mainly in coral reefs in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, particularly around Florida and the Bahamas. They are a popular choice for hobbyist saltwater aquariums, and come in a variety of colors.
The ribbon eel, also known as the leaf-nosed moray eel or bernis eel, is a species of moray eel, the only member of the genus Rhinomuraena. The ribbon eel is found in sand burrows and reefs in the Indo-Pacific Ocean. Although generally placed in the moray eel family Muraenidae, it has several distinctive features leading some to place it in its own family, Rhinomuraenidae.
Sequential hermaphroditism is one of the two types of hermaphroditism, the other type being simultaneous hermaphroditism. It occurs when the organism's sex changes at some point in its life. A sequential hermaphrodite produces eggs and sperm at different stages in life. Sequential hermaphroditism occurs in many fish, gastropods, and plants. Species that can undergo these changes do so as a normal event within their reproductive cycle, usually cued by either social structure or the achievement of a certain age or size.
Fish reproductive organs include testes and ovaries. In most species, gonads are paired organs of similar size, which can be partially or totally fused. There may also be a range of secondary organs that increase reproductive fitness. The genital papilla is a small, fleshy tube behind the anus in some fishes, from which the sperm or eggs are released; the sex of a fish can often be determined by the shape of its papilla.
Thalassoma bifasciatum, the bluehead, bluehead wrasse or blue-headed wrasse, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a wrasse from the family Labridae. It is native to the coral reefs of the tropical waters of the western Atlantic Ocean. Individuals are small and rarely live longer than two years. They form large schools over the reef and are important cleaner fish in the reefs they inhabit.
The bicolor angelfish is a marine species of fish, easily recognizable by its yellow tail, yellow front half of their body, and blue rear with blue patterns above and around the eye. Other names of this angelfish include: Pacific rock beauty, oriole angelfish, oriole dwarf angel, blue and gold angel, and two-colored angel. The life expectancy of this fish in the wild varies greatly, depending on location, and ranges between 5 and 13 years. These fish tend to grow to a maximum of 6 inches in length. The larval stages lasts approximately 32 days.
Hypoplectrus gemma, the blue hamlet, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a sea bass from the subfamily Serraninae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the groupers and anthias. It is found in the western Atlantic Ocean and occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade.
The queen angelfish, also known as the blue angelfish, golden angelfish, or yellow angelfish, is a species of marine angelfish found in the western Atlantic Ocean. It is a benthic warm-water species that lives in coral reefs. It is recognized by its blue and yellow coloration and a distinctive spot or "crown" on its forehead. This crown distinguishes it from the closely related and similar-looking Bermuda blue angelfish, with which it overlaps in range and can interbreed.
The masked hamlet is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a sea bass from the subfamily Serraninae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the groupers and anthias. This species is found in the western Atlantic Ocean in the Caribbean Sea and has been recorded from the coast of Central America from Quintana Roo in Mexico to Bocas del Toro in Panama and from Jamaica to Puerto Rico, as well as in the Turks and Caicos and the Cayman Islands. Its specific name refers to Providencia Island, Colombia where the type was collected. It was also recorded from other islands in the Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina. They are a unique species in the Hypoplectrus genus, defined by their unique color morph. Their behavior is largely similar to that of other hamlets, especially in their diet and egg-trading spawning patterns.
A hermaphrodite is a sexually reproducing organism that produces both male and female gametes. Animal species in which individuals are either male or female are gonochoric, which is the opposite of hermaphroditic.
Spawn is the eggs and sperm released or deposited into water by aquatic animals. As a verb, to spawn refers to the process of freely releasing eggs and sperm into a body of water ; the physical act is known as spawning. The vast majority of aquatic and amphibious animals reproduce through spawning. These include the following groups:
Hypoplectrus puella, the barred hamlet is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a sea bass from the subfamily Serraninae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the groupers and anthias. This species is from the Western Central Atlantic. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade.
Hypoplectrus nigricans, the black hamlet, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a sea bass from the subfamily Serraninae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the groupers and anthias. It is native to shallow parts of the central Western Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. It grows to about 15 cm (6 in) in total length. It is a simultaneous hermaphrodite, with a breeding strategy known as egg trading. One fish acts as a female and lays a batch of eggs which the other fertilises. The following night, the roles are reversed.
Hypoplectrus unicolor, the butter hamlet or yellowtail hamlet, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a sea bass from the subfamily Serraninae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the groupers and anthias. It occurs in the western central Atlantic Ocean and occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade.
Hypoplectrus indigo, the indigo hamlet, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a sea bass from the subfamily Serraninae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the groupers and anthias. It is found in the central western Atlantic Ocean. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade.
The shy hamlet is a small Western Atlantic serranid fish, which belongs to the subclass perciformes in the class Actinopterygii. To this date, seventeen species of the genus Hypoplectrus have been recognized, a third of which have been discovered in the past few years.
Ophryotrocha is a genus of marine polychaete worms in the family Dorvilleidae.
Scarus zelindae is a species of fish of the Scaridae family in the order Perciformes. This species of Parrotfish can be brown, blue, green, yellow, and purple and can change their colors several times throughout their lifetime. They live for about 5–7 years and can be found in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean, primarily in Brazilian waters.