| Symphodus caeruleus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Labriformes |
| Family: | Labridae |
| Genus: | Symphodus |
| Species: | S. caeruleus |
| Binomial name | |
| Symphodus caeruleus (Azevedo, 1999) | |
| Synonyms [2] | |
| |
Symphodus caeruleus is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a wrasse from the family Labridae. It is endemic to the Azores in the eastern Atlantic Ocean.
Symphodus caeruleus is a larger species of wrasse than any of its sympatric congeners in the Azores and it has differing meristic counts. [3] This species has 17-18 spines and 8-9 rays in its dorsal fin, 5-6 spines and 7-9 rays in its anal fin. It has 33-34 scales in its lateral line. [2] The females are an overall brownish colour, fading ventrally, with a chequered pattern of dark brown spotting on the body. There are four elongated spots on the body, with a fifth on the caudal peduncle which extends onto the proximate portion of the caudal fin, these spots are mirrored in the dorsal and anal fins. The terminal phase males are dark greenish=blue, becoming bluer in the breeding season, with paler fins and a pattern of darker spots similar to that of the females. [3] The males can reach a standard length of 21.5 centimetres (8.5 in) while females attain 17.5 centimetres (6.9 in). [2]
Symphodus caeruleus is found in the eastern Atlantic where it is endemic to the Azores.
Symphodus caeruleus is found over shallow, inshore rocky reefs with a good cover of algae which it uses for cover, feeding and nesting. Like many wrasse species this fish is a protogynous hermaphrodite, with sexual maturity being attained by males at a total length of 12 centimetres (4.7 in) and 14 centimetres (5.5 in) for females. This means that the males can still resemble the initial phase or be in their terminal phase after changing sex from a female. They spawn from March to June when the larger terminal males form harems and become territorial, this attracts females to spawn their demersal eggs in the male's nest and the males then provide exclusive care for the eggs. The males still resembling the initial phase, i.e. they look like females, possess larger testes than the terminal phase males and they may attempt to sneakily fertilise the eggs during spawning. [1]
Symphodus caeruleus was first formally described as Centrolabrus caeruleus in 1999, previously all wrasses from the genus Centrolabrus in the Azores had been identified as the emerald wrasse ( Centrolabrus trutta ). Later studies showed that this species was not as closely related to the rock cook as thought and it was placed in the genus Symphodus . [4] The specific name caeruleus refers to the blue colouration of the terminal phase males. [3]
The black sea bass 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 where it is an important species for commercial and recreational fisheries.
The wrasses are a family, Labridae, of marine fish, many of which are brightly colored. The family is large and diverse, with over 600 species in 81 genera, which are divided into 9 subgroups or tribes. They are typically small, most of them less than 20 cm (7.9 in) long, although the largest, the humphead wrasse, can measure up to 2.5 m (8.2 ft). They are efficient carnivores, feeding on a wide range of small invertebrates. Many smaller wrasses follow the feeding trails of larger fish, picking up invertebrates disturbed by their passing. Juveniles of some representatives of the genera Bodianus, Epibulus, Cirrhilabrus, Oxycheilinus, and Paracheilinus hide among the tentacles of the free-living mushroom corals & Heliofungia actiniformis.
The ballan wrasse is a species of marine ray finned fish from the family Labridae, the wrasses. It is found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, where it inhabits rocky areas. Like many wrasse species, it is a protogynous hermaphrodite—all fish start life as females, and some dominant fish later become males. It is used as a food fish in some areas and it is also finding use as a cleaner fish in the aquaculture of Atlantic salmon in northwestern Europe.
The snowy grouper is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It is found in the western Atlantic Ocean.
The Christmas wrasse, also known as the ladder wrasse, green-barred wrasse or green-blocked wrasse, is a species of ray-finned fish, a wrasse from the family Labridae which is native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean. It inhabits shallow reefs at depths from the surface to 10 m (33 ft). It is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries and can be found in the aquarium trade.
Cephalopholis panamensis, the Pacific graysby or Panama graysby, 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. It is found in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
The slingjaw wrasse, Epibulus insidiator, 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. Relatively mundane at first glance, this fish is notable for its highly protrusible jaws.
The ornate wrasse, Thalassoma pavo, is a species of wrasse native to the rocky coasts of the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. This species is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries, is also popular as a game fish, and can be found in the aquarium trade.
Callionymus maculatus, the spotted dragonet, is a species of dragonet native to the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea where it occurs at depths of from 45 to 650 metres. This species is important to local peoples engaged in subsistence fishing.
The pointed-snout wrasse, also known as the long-snout wrasse, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a wrasse from the family Labridae which is native to coastal waters of the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea. This species can also be found in the aquarium trade and is occasionally taken in artisanal fisheries.
Gomphosus caeruleus, the green birdmouth wrasse, is a species of wrasse belonging to the family Labridae. It can be found in the aquarium trade.
Stethojulis trilineata, also known as the blue-ribbon wrasse, red shouldered rainbow-fish, scarlet-banded rainbowfish, three-blueline wrasse, three-lined rainbowfish or three-lined wrasse, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a wrasse from the family Labridae. It is found in the Indo-Pacific region where it is associated with reefs.
The blackear wrasse is a species of wrasse, a type of fish in the family Labridae, from the warmer waters of the western Atlantic Ocean.
The rock cook, or small-mouthed wrasse, is a species of marine ray-finned fish from the wrasse family Labridae which is found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean off the coasts of Europe.
Latent sling-jaw wrasse is a species of ray-finned fish from the wrasse Family Labridae which is associated with reefs in the south-western Pacific Ocean.
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.
The bleeding wrasse is a species of marine ray-finned fish from the family Labridae, the wrasses. It is found in reefs in the eastern central Pacific Ocean.
Pseudocoris heteroptera, the torpedo wrasse or zebra wrasse, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a wrasse from the family Labridae. It is found in the western Pacific Ocean where it is associated with reefs.
Pteragogus trispilus is a species of marine ray-finned fish from the wrasse family, the Labridae. It is native to the Red Sea from where it has entered the Mediterranean Sea.
The emerald wrasse is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a wrasse from the family Labridae. It is endemic to the eastern Atlantic Ocean where it is found in the Macaronesian archipelagoes of the Canary Islands and Madeira, including the Savage Islands. This species was formerly thought to be found in the Azores but the specimens there were found to belong to a separate species Symphodus caeruleus.
