Pearly razorfish

Pearly razorfish
A Mediterranean specimen at the Civic Aquarium of Milan
An individual off the coast of southeast US
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Labriformes
Family:	Labridae
Genus:	Xyrichtys
Species:	X. novacula
Binomial name
Xyrichtys novacula (Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms
See text

The pearly razorfish (Xyrichtys novacula), also known as the cleaver wrasse, is a species of wrasse found in the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. It is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries and is popular as a game fish. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. ^[2]

Description

The pearly razorfish can reach 38 cm (15 in) in total length, though most individuals do not exceed 20 cm (7.9 in). Its body is elongated and very compressed laterally, and the head is flattened, with a steep profile and sharp teeth. Its long dorsal fin extends along most of its back. It has 9 dorsal spines, 12 dorsal soft rays, 3 anal spines and 12 anal soft rays. The pearly razorfish has a yellow-orange or reddish-pink color that is darker on the back and lighter on the belly, sometimes marked with green and gray stripes. The head shows bluish vertical lines and there are scales with brisk reflexes on the abdomen.

Upon capture, this fish is known to turn its mouth and sharp protruding teeth past 90 degrees to either side in relationship to its body in an attempt to be released from capture. ^[2]

Distribution and habitat

The pearly razorfish is widespread throughout the subtropical and tropical Atlantic Ocean; it also occurs in the Mediterranean Sea. It inhabits clear, shallow littoral areas with sandy or muddy bottoms, at depths of 1–20 m. In winter it migrates to greater depths, up to 90–150 m.

Diet and behavior

The pearly razorfish feeds on small invertebrates such as crustaceans, mollusks and echinoderms. ^[2] It can bury itself rapidly in the bottom when disturbed. ^[2]

Pearly razorfish caught in Santorini, Greece

Synonyms

A large number of binomials names have been determined to be junior synonyms of Xyrichthys novacula: ^[2]

Coryphaena novaculaLinnaeus, 1758 Hemipteronotus novacula(Linnaeus, 1758) Novacula novacula(Linnaeus, 1758) Coryphaena psittacusLinnaeus, 1766 Hemipteronotus psittacus(Linnaeus, 1766) Xyrichthys psittacus(Linnaeus, 1766) Coryphaena lineata Gmelin, 1789 Novacula lineata(Gmelin, 1789) Coryphaena lineolata Rafinesque, 1810 Novacula lineolata(Rafinesque, 1810) Amorphocephalus granulatus Bowdich, 1825 Novacula coryphena Risso, 1827

Novacula coryphaenaRisso, 1827 Xyrichthys uniocellatus Agassiz, 1831 Xyrichthys cultratus Valenciennes, 1840 Novacula cultrata(Valenciennes, 1840) Xyrichthys vittaValenciennes, 1840 Xyrichthys vermiculatus Poey, 1860 Xyrichthys argentimaculata Steindachner, 1861 Xyrichthys rosipes Jordan & Gilbert, 1884 Xyrichthys jessiaeJordan, 1888 Hemipteronotus copei Fowler, 1900 Xyrichthys binghami Mowbray, 1925

References

1. Pollard, D.; Rocha, L.; Ferreira, C.E.; Francini-Filho, R.; Moura, R.R. (2010). "Xyrichtys novacula". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2010 e.T187696A8603436. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T187696A8603436.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
2. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Xyrichtys novacula". FishBase . October 2013 version.

External links

• Xyrichtys novacula. Marine Species Identification Portal. Downloaded on 25 May 2013.
• WoRMS

Bibliography

• Eschmeyer, William N., ed. 1998. Catalog of Fishes. Special Publication of the Center for Biodiversity Research and Information, n. 1, vol. 1-3. California Academy of Sciences. San Francisco, California, USA. 2905. ISBN   0-940228-47-5.
• Fenner, Robert M.: The Conscientious Marine Aquarist. Neptune City, New Jersey, USA: T.F.H. Publications, 2001.
• Helfman, G., B. Collette y D. Facey: The diversity of fishes. Blackwell Science, Malden, Massachusetts, USA, 1997.
• Hoese, D.F. 1986: . A M.M. Smith y P.C. Heemstra (eds.) Smiths' sea fishes. Springer-Verlag, Berlín, Germany.
• Maugé, L.A. 1986. A J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse y D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). Bruxelles; Vol. 2.
• Moyle, P. y J. Cech.: Fishes: An Introduction to Ichthyology, 4th. ed, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, USA: Prentice-Hall. 2000.
• Nelson, J.: Fishes of the World, 3rd. Ed. New York City, USA: John Wiley and Sons. 1994.
• Wheeler, A.: The World Encyclopedia of Fishes, 2nd. Ed., London: Macdonald. 1985.

External links

• Photos of Pearly razorfish in the Sealife Collection