Redfingers

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Redfingers
Redfingers on the wreck of MFV Princess Elizabeth P3167285.JPG
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Cheilodactylidae
Genus: Cheilodactylus
Species:
C. fasciatus
Binomial name
Cheilodactylus fasciatus
Lacépède, 1803
Synonyms [2]

The redfingers (Cheilodactylus fasciatus) is a species of marine ray-finned fish, belonging to the family Cheilodactylidae, commonly referred to as morwongs. It is found only off the coasts of Namibia and South Africa, in rock pools and from shallow depths to 120 m, on rocky reef areas. Its length is up to 30 cm.

Contents

Taxonomy

The redfingers was first formally described in 1803 by the French naturalist Bernard Germain de Lacépède with the type locality give nas the Cape of Good Hope. [3] When Lacépède wrote his description this was the only species in the genus Cheilodactylus and so is its type species and that of the family Cheilodactylidae. [4] Phylogenetic analyses and genetic studies of the morwongs have not supported the traditional arrangement of the families Cheilodactylidae and Latridae. This has led to some authorities suggesting that the majority of species in Cheilodactylidae should be placed in Latridae. [5] [6] A result of this rearrangement is that the only species which would remain in Cheilodactylidae are this species and C. pixi , both from southern Africa. [5] This is because these analyses resolved the genus Cheilodactylus as polyphyletic. [5] [7] These studies appear to show that most of the species in Cheilodactylus sensu lato instead apparrently to belong in several different genera and are not even members of the same family, but how many and their exact delimitation is not clear at present. [5] [8] [9] The outlier species have been assigned to Chirodactylus , Goniistius , Morwong and Pseudogoniistius , but DNA and morphologic analyses found those species to be nested within Latridae and more derived than the kelpfish, marblefish and this species. [9] [7] [5] The specific name fasciatus means "banded", a reference to the bars on the back and flanks of this species. [10]

Description

The redfingers has body which is oval in shape, [11] with a depth that fits into its standard length 3.2 to 3.7 times. [12] It has a small mouth, [11] . pointed snout and a slightly concave breast. [13] The dorsal fin has 17-19 spines and 23-25 soft rays while the anal fin contains3 spines and 9-11 soft rays. This species attains a maximum total length of 30 cm (12 in). The pectoral fins have 14 rays with the lower 4-5 rays enlarged [12] and red in colour. [11] There are four wide reddish-brown stripes on lower flanks and five quadrangular marks on the upper flanks which line up with the stripes on the rear of body. The head covered with rectangular spots and dashes and the caudal fin has diagonal brown stripes. [13]

Distribution and habitat

The redfingers is endemic to the waters of southern Africa occurring in both the southeastern Atlantic Ocean and the southwestern Indian Ocean. Its range extends from Swakopmund in Namibia to northern KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. They are typically found at depths down to 25 m (82 ft), although they are occasionally recorded as deep as 120 m (390 ft). [1] It is found in rocky areas, especially reefs, while the juveniles are commonly found in tidal pools. [11]

Biology

The redfingers is a cryptic species which is well camouflaged in its rocky habitat. The adults are found either as solitary individuals or in small groups. These fish are more numeroud in deeper waters where there is plentiful cover and caves, which are used as sanctuaries to when the water temperature falls and from predators. Its diet is dominated by benthic invertebrates including small crabs, molluscs and worms. [1]

Fisheries

The redfingers is caught accidentally in small numbers but it is of little interest to either recreational or commercial fisheries. They are used in coldwater aquaria but mainly in public aquaria. [1]

Related Research Articles

Cheilodactylidae Family of fishes

Cheilodactylidae, commonly called morwongs but also known as butterfish, fingerfins, jackassfish, sea carp, snappers, and moki, is a family of marine ray-finned fish. They are found in subtropical oceans in the Southern Hemisphere. The common name "morwong" is also used as a name for several unrelated fish found in Australian waters, such as the painted sweetlips. The classification of the species within the Cheilodactylidae and the related Latridae is unclear.

Cirrhitidae Family of fishes

Cirrhitidae, the hawkfishes, are a family of marine perciform ray-finned fishes found in tropical seas and which are associated with coral reefs.

Red moki Species of fish

The red moki also known as the banded morwong, brown-banded morwong, carp or nanua is a species of marine ray-finned fish, belonging to the family Cheilodactylidae, commonly referred to as morwongs. It is found off southern Australia and the North Island of New Zealand

Large kelpfish Species of fish

The large kelpfish, the Eastern kelpfish, hiwihiwi, surgefish or kelpfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a kelpfish belonging to the family Chironemidae. It is found in southern Australia, and off the North Island of New Zealand, at depths down to 30 m.

<i>Chironemus</i> Genus of fishes

Chironemus is a genus of marine ray finned fish, commonly known as kelpfishes, belonging to the family Chironemidae. They are found in the temperate waters of the Southern Pacific Ocean.

Magpie perch Species of fish

The magpie perch, magpie morwong or black-striped morwong, is a morwong, found off southern Australia and northern New Zealand from shallow depths to 250 m. Although traditionally included in the genus Cheilodactylus in family Cheilodactylidae, based on genetic and morphological analyses it belongs in its own genus Pseudogoniistius in family Latridae.

Red morwong Species of fish

The red morwong is a morwong, a species of fish found off southeast Australia and the North Island of New Zealand from shallow depths to at least 55 m, on rocky reef and coastal areas. Its length is between 30 and 60 cm.

Painted moki Species of fish

The painted moki is a morwong, a species of fish found off southern Australia, Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island, and northern New Zealand including the Kermadec Islands, from shallow depths to 250 m, on rocky reef and coastal areas. Its length is up to 50 cm. Although traditionally included in the genus Cheilodactylus in family Cheilodactylidae, based on genetic and morphological analyses it belongs in the genus Morwong in family Latridae.

<i>Cirrhitichthys</i> Genus of fishes

Cirrhitichthys is a genus of marine ray-finned fish, hawkfishes from the family Cirrhitidae. They are found on tropical reefs in the Indian and western Pacific oceans. Some species can be found in the aquarium trade.

Longnose hawkfish Species of fish

The longnose hawkfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a hawkfish belonging to the family Cirrhitidae. It is found on tropical reefs of the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, where it can be found at depths around 10 to 100 m. It prefers the steep outer slopes of the reefs amongst gorgonians and black corals. This species can reach 13 cm (5.1 in) in total length. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. It is currently the only known member in its genus.

<i>Cheilodactylus</i> Genus of fishes

Cheilodactylus is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Cheilodactylidae, known as morwongs, although this name is not unique to this family. They are found in the temperate waters of the southern hemisphere and in the North Pacific Ocean.

<i>Chirodactylus</i> Genus of fish

Chirodactylus is a genus of morwongs native to the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans off southern Africa, southern Australia, New Zealand and South America. They were formerly included in the genus Cheilodactylus in family Cheilodactylidae, but based on genetic and morphological analyses they have been moved Chirodactylus in family Latridae.

<i>Cirrhitus</i> Genus of fishes

Cirrhitus is a genus of marine ray-finned fish, hawkfishes from the family Cirrhitidae. The species in this genus are found on tropical reefs worldwide.

Splendid hawkfish Species of fish

The splendid hawkfish, also known as mottled hawkfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a hawkfish belonging to the family Cirrhitidae. It is found on tropical reefs of the Pacific Ocean.

<i>Goniistius</i> Genus of Actinopterygii

Goniistius is a genus of morwongs found in the Pacific Ocean and southeastern Indian Ocean. They were formerly included in the genus Cheilodactylus in family Cheilodactylidae, but based on genetic and morphological analyses they have been moved Goniistius in family Latridae.

<i>Morwong</i> (genus) Genus of fishes

Morwong is a genus of fishes belonging to the family Latridae found in oceans off Australia and New Zealand. They were formerly included in the genus Cheilodactylus in family Cheilodactylidae, but based on genetic and morphological analyses they have been moved to genus Morwong in family Latridae.

<i>Cheilodactylus variegatus</i> Species of fish

Cheilodactylus variegatus, the Peruvian morwong or bilagai, is a species of ray-finned fish found in the southeastern Pacific Ocean off the western coast of South America. Although traditionally included in the genus Cheilodactylus in family Cheilodactylidae, based on genetic and morphological analyses it belongs in the genus Chirodactylus in family Latridae.

Redbarred hawkfish Species of fish

The redbarred hawkfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a hawkfish belonging to the family Cirrhitidae. It is endemic to the Hawaiian Archipelago in the Pacific Ocean.

Cirrhitoidea

Cirrhitoidea is a superfamily within the suborder Percoidei of the large order of ray-finned fishes, the Perciformes.

<i>Cirrhitops mascarenensis</i>

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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Fennessy, S.; Holleman, W. & Russell, B. (2020). "Cheilodactylus fasciatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T21113874A21914195. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T21113874A21914195.en . Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  2. ↑ Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2021). "Cheilodactylus fasciatus" in FishBase. June 2021 version.
  3. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Cheilodactylus". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  4. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Cheilodactylidae". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Christopher P. Burridge and Adam J. Smolenski (2004). "Molecular phylogeny of the Cheilodactylidae and Latridae (Perciformes: Cirrhitoidea) with notes on taxonomy and biogeography". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 30: 118–127. doi:10.1016/S1055-7903(03)00157-X.
  6. ↑ John E. Randall (2007). Reef and Shore Fishes of the Hawaiian Islands. ISBN   1-929054-03-3.
  7. 1 2 C. P. Burridge and R.W.G. White (2000). "Molecular phylogeny of the antitropical subgenus Goniistius (Perciformes: Cheilodactylidae: Cheilodactylus): evidence for multiple transequatorial divergences and non-monophyly". Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 70: 435–458. doi:10.1006/bijl.1999.0413.
  8. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Cheilodactylus". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  9. 1 2 Ludt, W.B.; Burridge, C.P. & Chakrabarty, P. (2019). "A taxonomic revision of Cheilodactylidae and Latridae (Centrarchiformes: Cirrhitoidei) using morphological and genomic characters". Zootaxa. 585 (1). doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4585.1.7.
  10. ↑ Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara, eds. (25 February 2021). "Order Centrarchiformes: Families Centrarchidae, Elassomatidae, Eoplosidae, Sinipercidae, Aplodactylidae, Cheilodactylidae, Chironemidae, Cirrhitidae, Latridae, Percichthydiae, Dichistitidae, Girellidae, Kuhliidae, Kyphosidae, Oplegnathidae, Terapontidae, Microcanthidae, and Scorpididae". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Roy Lubke; Irene J. De Moor, eds. (1998). Field Guide to the Eastern & Southern Cape Coasts. Juta and Company Ltd. ISBN   1919713034.
  12. 1 2 Heemstra, Phillip C.; Heemstra, Elaine (2004). Coastal Fishes of Southern Africa. NISC (PTY) LTD. ISBN   1920033017.
  13. 1 2 "Cheilodactylus fasciatus". Reef Life Survey. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
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