Novaculichthys

Last updated

Novaculichthys
Rockmover wrasse (Novaculichthys taeniourus).jpg
In Indonesia
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Labriformes
Family: Labridae
Tribe: Novaculini
Genus: Novaculichthys
Bleeker, 1862
Species:
N. taeniourus
Binomial name
Novaculichthys taeniourus
(Lacépède, 1801)
Synonyms [2] [3]
Genus synonymy
Species synonymy
  • Labrus taeniourusLacépède, 1801
  • Hemipteronotus taeniourus(Lacépède, 1801)
  • Julis bifer Lay & E. T. Bennett, 1839
  • Novaculichthys bifer(Lay & E. T. Bennett, 1839)

Novaculichthys taeniourus, also known as the rockmover wrasse, carpet wrasse, dragon wrasse, bar-cheeked wrasse, olive-scribbled wrasse or reindeer wrasse, is a species of wrasse mainly found in coral reefs and lagoons in the Indo-Pacific region. These include habitats in the Gulf of California to Panama; tropical Pacific Ocean islands including Hawaii; the Philippines, Indonesia and Australia; and the Indian Ocean to the east coast of Africa. The common name, "rockmover wrasse", comes from their behavior of upending small stones and reef fragments in search of prey. [4] This species is the only known member of its genus.

Contents

Etymology

The genus "Novaculichthys", in Latin Novacula means razor, and ikhthús in Greek, means fish., [3] while the specific name "taeniourus" from Greek tainía means ribbon, and oura means tail.

Distribution

They are widely distributed in tropical Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean reefs and lagoons.

Habitat

Adult fish live on shallow, semi-exposed reef flats and in lagoons and seaward reefs to depths of 14–25 m (46–82 ft). They prefer hard-bottomed grassy areas of mixed sand and rubble with exposure to a mild surge. Juveniles favor shallow areas on rubble among large patch reefs or protected open patches on reef crests. [5]

Description

Adult, in Panama Rockmover Wrasse, Novaculichthys taeniourus, Coiba N.P., Isla machete imported from iNaturalist photo 49954451.jpg
Adult, in Panama

The rockmover wrasse is a colorful fish, 27–30 cm (11–12 in) in length. [5] It has an oblong, laterally compressed body and a wedge-shaped head. Its head is scaleless except for two scales on the upper part of the gill coverings and an almost vertical row of small scales behind each eye.

Juveniles and adults have markedly different appearances. In juveniles, the first two dorsal fin spines are long and extended, drooping over the fish's forehead to form a "cowlick". As the fish matures, the elongated rays are lost. The adult fish has a dark greenish-brown body with an elongated white spot on each scale. Its head is gray-blue with brown lines radiated from the eyes. Two black spots occur in front of the dorsal fin and a wide vertical white bar is found on the base of the caudal fin. The posterior part of the caudal fin and the pelvic fins are black. Juveniles found in Hawaii are usually green and those in the western Pacific are burgundy to brownish. Both are spotted in white.[ citation needed ]

The difference in appearance between juvenile and adult N. taeniourus is so striking, the common name "rockmover wrasse" is used for adults and "dragon wrasse" is used for juveniles. [4] [6]

Reproduction

Although little is known about reproduction of these fish, like other wrasses, they probably are able to change sex and are pelagic spawners, broadcasting eggs and sperm into the water column. [6]

Behavior

These fish are highly territorial and pairs of adults often protect large areas of reef. [7]

The fish feed on benthic invertebrates including molluscs, crabs and polychaete worms. [7] One fish turns or shifts large pieces of debris or rubble, grabbing or pulling it with its mouth or pushing it with its snout. When the working member of the pair has revealed the prey, the other fish quickly grabs and eats it. Juveniles do not usually work in pairs, doing all the work themselves. Facing danger, these wrasses quickly dive into the sand for protection.

Juveniles resemble algae and mimic the movements of detached, drifting seaweed by swaying back and forth in the currents. [5]

Construction of sleeping mounds

In Japan, rockmover wrasses have been recorded constructing mounds made of coral fragments and sand to sleep in. Each evening, a wrasse would create a mound of sand, before topping the mound with up to 70 pieces of round or flattened coral fragments. These primarily consist of faviid corals. When moving coral fragments that are too large to be picked, the fish will drag it while swimming backwards. Shortly before sunset, the wrasse will move a few pieces of coral to open up an entrance, before diving into the mound to spend its night. [8]

Related Research Articles

<i>Scolopsis bilineata</i> Species of fish

Scolopsis bilineata, the two-lined monocle bream, bridled monocle bream, bridled spinecheek, double-lined coral bream or yellow-finned spine-cheek, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Nemipteridae, the threadfin breams. This species is found in the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clown coris</span> Species of fish

The clown coris, also known as the clown wrasse, false clownwrasse, humphead wrasse, hump-headed wrasse, red-blotched rainbowfish or twinspot wrasse, is a species of wrasse native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Checkerboard wrasse</span> Species of fish

The checkerboard wrasse is a fish belonging to the wrasse family. It is native to the area including the Indian Ocean to central Pacific Ocean.

<i>Acanthurus dussumieri</i> Species of fish

Acanthurus dussumieri, commonly known as Dussumier's surgeonfish, the eye-stripe surgeonfish or the ornate surgeonfish, is a ray-finned fish from the Indo-Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a maximum length of 54 cm (21 in) but 35 cm (14 in) is a more usual size.

<i>Gomphosus varius</i> Species of fish

The bird wrasse, Gomphosus varius, is a species of the wrasse family.

<i>Coris gaimard</i> Species of fish

Coris gaimard, the yellowtail wrasse or African coris, among other vernacular names, is a species of wrasse native to the tropical waters of the central Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean, from Christmas Islands and Cocos Keeling Islands to the Society Islands, Hawaii, and from Japan to Australia. It is an inhabitant of coral reefs, being found in areas that offer a mix of sand patches, rubble, and coral at depths from 1 to 50 m. This species can also be found in the aquarium trade and is popular species for display in public aquaria.

<i>Halichoeres chrysus</i> Species of fish

Halichoeres chrysus, commonly called the canary wrasse, golden wrasse or yellow wrasse, is a fish species in the wrasse family native to central Indo-Pacific area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sling-jaw wrasse</span> Species of fish

The slingjaw wrasse is a species of wrasse from the family Labridae which is native to the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific where it occurs around coral reefs. This species is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries and can be found in the aquarium trade. This fish is notable for its highly protrusible jaws.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mailed butterflyfish</span> Species of fish

The mailed butterflyfish, also known as the reticulated butterflyfish or black butterflyfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a butterflyfish belonging to the family Chaetodontidae, This species is found on reefs in the central and western Pacific Ocean. It can be found in the aquarium trade.

<i>Oplopomus oplopomus</i> Species of fish

Oplopomus oplopomus, commonly known as the spinecheek goby, is a species of goby native to the Indo-Pacific region. They can grow to a maximum length of 10 centimetres (3.9 in). They inhabit coral reefs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red-lined wrasse</span> Species of fish

The red-lined wrasse, two-spotted wrasse or biocellated wrasse, Halichoeres biocellatus, is a species of wrasse native to shallow tropical waters in the western Pacific Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue blanquillo</span> Species of fish

The blue blanquillo, also known as the banded blanquillo, striped blanquillo, false whiting, sand tilefish or eye of the sea, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a tilefish belonging to the family Malacanthidae. It is found in the Indo-Pacific.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tubelip wrasse</span> Species of fish

The tubelip wrasse is a species of wrasse native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean. This species occurs in lagoons and on coral reefs at depths from 0 to 20 m. This species grows to 17.5 cm (6.9 in) in total length. It is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries and can be found in the aquarium trade. This species is the only known member of its genus.

<i>Coris cuvieri</i> Species of fish

Coris cuvieri, the African wrasse, African coris or false clowwrasse, is a species of marine ray-finned fish from the wrasse family Labridae which is found in the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. It is sometimes found in the aquarium trade.

<i>Heniochus singularius</i> Species of fish

Heniochus singularius, the singular bannerfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a butterflyfish from the family Chaetodontidae. It is found in the Indo-Pacific region.

<i>Chaetodon plebeius</i> Species of fish

Chaetodon plebeius, the blueblotch butterflyfish, bluespot butterflyfish, bluedash butterflyfish or grey-blotched butterflyfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a butterflyfish belonging to the family Chaetodontidae. It is native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

<i>Halichoeres prosopeion</i> Species of fish

Halichoeres prosopeion, commonly called the twotone wrasse, half-grey wrasse or zig-zag wrasse, is a fish species in the wrasse family native to the western Pacific Ocean.

<i>Siganus virgatus</i> Species of fish

Siganus virgatus, the barhead spinefoot, doublebar rabbitfish or doublebar spinefoot is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a rabbitfish belonging to the family Siganidae. It is found in the Indo-Pacific region.

<i>Cymolutes torquatus</i> Species of fish

Cymolutes torquatus, the finescale razorfish, razor wrasse or collared knifefish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish from the family Labridae, the wrasses. It is a solitary wrasse of sandy flats which has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution. It has no recorded human uses.

Hologymnosus longipes, the sidespot longface wrasse or the plain slender wrasse, is a species of marine ray-finned fish from the family Labridae, the wrasses. It occurs in the western Pacific Ocean.

References

  1. Pollard, D.; Yeeting, B.; Liu, M. (2010). "Novaculichthys taeniourus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2010: e.T187441A8536165. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T187441A8536165.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Labridae". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  3. 1 2 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Novaculichthys taeniourus". FishBase . August 2019 version.
  4. 1 2 "The Dragon Wrasse: The Good, The Bad, and The Beautiful" . Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 "Novaculichthys taeniourus". zipcodezoo.com. April 10, 2008. Archived from the original on March 14, 2012.
  6. 1 2 "Rockmover Wrasse". Aquarium of the Pacific. April 10, 2008.
  7. 1 2 Bray, Dianne. "Carpet Wrasse, Novaculichthys taeniourus". Fishes of Australia. Archived from the original on 4 November 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  8. Takayanagi, S.; Sakai, Y.; Hashimoto, H.; Gushima, K. (November 2003). "Sleeping mound construction using coral fragments by the rockmover wrasse". Journal of Fish Biology. 63 (5): 1352–1356. doi:10.1046/j.1095-8649.2003.00243.x. ISSN   0022-1112.