Kuhlia sandvicensis | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Perciformes |
Family: | Kuhliidae |
Genus: | Kuhlia |
Species: | K. sandvicensis |
Binomial name | |
Kuhlia sandvicensis (Steindachner, 1876) | |
Synonyms [1] | |
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Kuhlia sandvicensis, the reticulated flagtail, zebra-headed flagtail or Hawaiian flagtail, is a species of ray-finned fish, a flagtail from the family Kuhliidae which is found in the central Pacific Ocean. It is popular as a game fish and can also be found in the aquarium trade.
Kuhlia sandvicensis has a relatively small eye with a near straight dorsal profile of the head and a strongly forked caudal fin In the anal fin the third spine is slightly longer than the second. They are silvery in colour with a silver and black reticulated pattern on the top of the head and the margin of the caudal fin is blackish. [2] The dorsal fin has 10 spines and 11-12 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 11-12 soft rays. This species has attained a total length of 25 centimetres (9.8 in). [1]
Kuhlia sandvicensis is found in the Pacific Ocean around Hawaii, Pitcairn Island, Tuamotu, Wake Island, Rapa, Society Islands and Kiribati. [2]
Kuhlia sandvicensis is common in Hawaii where the young are quite numerous along rocky shores, in tide pools, and in and around the mouths of streams which are connected to the sea. The juveniles are often observed under wharves, in more sizeable tide pools, as well as in both brackish and freshwater ponds, and streams. The adults occur in caves in wave-swept coral reefs, in the surf zone at the base of cliffs and in wrecks. They will infrequently form as schools in more open water. [3] Although this species is found in both marine and freshwater habitats they do not require any time in freshwater to complete their life cycle. [4] They feed on fishes, aquatic invertebrates and insects. [1]
Kuhlia sandvicensis was thought to be endemic to Hawaii and to be the only species of flagtail present there, but in the 1990s ichthyologists independently noted two species which were separated morphologically and genetically. One had a black and white "zebra pattern" on its head while the other had a plain head. The plain headed species was identified as the previously forgotten Kuhlia xenura , the type of which had been erroneously labelled as being from El Salvador. [5] They also found the zebra-headed flagtail to be widespread in the Pacific and that the plain headed one was the endemic Hawaiian species. [6]
In Hawaii, the common name is ʻāhole for the mature fish and ʻāholehole for the juvenile. The name is probably derived from the word hole in the Hawaiian language which means "to strip away", since the fish was used to "strip away" evil spirits and as an aphrodisiac. A proverb was, "He ʻāhole ka iʻa, hole ke aloha", meaning roughly "ʻāhole is the fish, but love is restless". It was also sometimes known as puaʻa kai, literally "pig of the sea". European visitors were sometimes called ʻāhole due to their pale skin. [7] Aholehole is an important food fish in the Hawaiian Islands and they were frequently featured in traditional ceremonies by Hawaiian people. [4]
The current location of Kona International Airport, Keāhole Point, is named after this fish, because it was found in this area. [8]
The flagtails are a family (Kuhliidae) of perciform fish of the Indo-Pacific area. The family consists of several species in one genus, Kuhlia. Most are euryhaline and often found in brackish water, but the genus also includes species restricted to marine or fresh water.
Naso vlamingii, the bignose unicornfish, scibbled unicornfish, Vlaming's unicornfish, and zebra unicornfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This species is found in the Indo-Pacific.
Kuhlia marginata, the dark-margined flagtail, spotted flagtail, silver flagtail, orange-finned flagtail, northern jungle perch or mountain bass, is a species of diadromous ray-finned fish, a flagtail from the family Kuhliidae. It is found in eastern Asia and Oceania.
Kalepolepo Fishpond, known by its older name Koʻieʻi.e. Loko Iʻa, is an ancient Hawaiian fishpond estimated to have been built between 1400 and 1500 AD.
The Hawaiian flagtails are species of the genus of flagtail fishes found in the Hawaiian Islands. Two species are Kuhlia sandvicensis and K. xenura. K. xenura is endemic to the islands.
Kuhlia xenura, the strange-tailed flagtail or Hawaii flagtail, is a species of ray-finned fish, a flagtail from the family Kuhliidae which is endemic to Hawaii, where it occurs in fresh, brackish, and marine waters. It can be found in tide pools, estuaries, and on reefs occurring over sand or rock.
Cephalopholis urodeta, the darkfin hind, flagtail rockcod, chevron rockcod, duskyfin hind, duskyfin rockcod, flagtail grouper or V-tail grouper, 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 in the Western Pacific Ocean and the far eastern Indian Ocean.
Acanthurus nigroris, the bluelined surgeonfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, which includes the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This species and A. nigros have been regarded as synonymous with the combined taxon having a wide Indo-Pacific distribution, if treated as a separate valid species it is confined to the United States Pacific islands.
The imposter trevally, also known as the imposter jack or white-tongued trevally, is a species of small coastal marine fish in the jack family Carangidae. The imposter trevally is distributed through the tropical waters of Indian and west Pacific oceans, from the Gulf of Oman in the west to Japan and Australia in the east. The species is quite similar to the Malabar trevally, but can be distinguished by its gill raker count, and is identifiable from other species by having a white to pale grey tongue. It is a relatively small species, growing to a maximum recorded length of 30 cm. The imposter trevally inhabits coastal waters of the continental shelf in depths of up to 140 m, often associating with closely related carangid species. It preys on a range of small fish, crustaceans and cephalopods, but little is known of its reproductive biology. The imposter trevally is of minor importance to fisheries throughout its range, taken by hook and line, bottom trawls and several types of artisanal gear.
Keāhole Point is the westernmost point of the island of Hawaii. The Kona International Airport was moved here from directly north of the town of Kailua-Kona in 1970, when the previous smaller airstrip was converted into the Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area. The name comes from Ke ʻāhole since the ʻāhole fish was found nearby.
Kuhlia mugil, the barred flagtail, the fiveband flagtail or the five-bar flagtail, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a flagtail belonging to the family Kuhliidae. It is found in the Indo-Pacific region.
The dara is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grunt belonging to the family Haemulidae. It is native to the Atlantic coast of Africa. It is the only species in the monospecific genus Parakuhlia.
Parapercis maculata, the harlequin sandperch, is a species of marine bony fish in the family Pinguipedidae, found in shallow waters in the tropical western Indo-Pacific Ocean.
Kuhlia rupestris, the rock flagtail, jungle perch. mountain trout, buffalo bream, dusky-finned bulleye, rockmountain bass or spotted flagtail, is a species of ray-finned fish, a flagtail, from the family Kuhliidae. It is a catadromous species which is native to the Indo-Pacific and northern Australia.
Kuhlia malo is a freshwater and brackish water species of ray-finned fish from the family Kuhliidae which is endemic to French Polynesia.
Kyphosus elegans, the Chopa Mojonera or Cortez chub, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a sea chub from the family Kyphosidae. It is found in the eastern Pacific Ocean where it is of minor importance to commercial fisheries.
The grey-head surgeonfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae which includes the surgeonfishes. unicornfishes and tangs. This species has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution.
Cirrhitops mascarenensis is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a hawkfish belonging to the family Cirrhitidae. It is found in the southwestern Indian Ocean.
Cirrhitus pinnulatus, the stocky hawkfish, whitespotted hawkfish or marbled hawkfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a hawkfish belonging to the family Cirrhitidae. It is found in the Indo-West Pacific region.