The skilletfish (Gobiesox strumosus) is a member of the family Gobiesocidae, composed of clingfishes. These are mainly marine, tropical and temperate fishes characterized by a powerful sucking disk on the underside of the forebody.[2]
The skilletfish has a frying pan-shaped body which can grow to about 3 inches in length. The body is compressed dorsoventrally with the head being wider than the body. Tiny eyes are located on top of the head. The fish also has strong teeth and fleshy lips. Color varies from a pale gray to dark brown with a mottled pattern.[2] About 6 faint lines radiate from eye.[3] The fish also has a dark band at the base of its rounded tail fin. Modified pelvic fins form a large suction disc on the underside of the body.[2] The dorsal and ventral fins are set fairly far back on the body.[4]
Dietedit
Skilletfish primarily feed on bristle worms and small crustaceans such as amphipods and isopods.[2]
Habitatedit
Usually lives among oyster reefs, but may also be found within eelgrass beds. Stays in shallow waters near the shore during warmer months but will move to deeper waters in winter. Almost always clings to rocks or shells with suction disc.[2]
Reproduction and life cycleedit
For the skilletfish, spawning occurs between April and August. The female will lay a few hundred sticky, amber-colored eggs into an empty oyster shell, which the male will then protect until they hatch.[2] Upon hatching, the fish is 2.4–3.4 mm long, and it generally grows about 9 mm during development, eventually reaching 40–45 mm long when it is time for the first reproduction
Distributionedit
The skilletfish can be found in the Western Atlantic: Bermuda, New Jersey and northern Gulf of Mexico in USA to southeastern Brazil. It is absent from the Bahamas. It can also be found in the Eastern Central Pacific: coastal lagoons and tidal flats of Sonora, Sinaloa and Nayarit, Mexico.[3] The skillet ranges from New Jersey and New York in the northern end of its distribution south to Brazil, also occurring in the West Indies and the Gulf of Mexico.[3]
Etymologyedit
In Latin, Gobiesox means gobius which can equate to gudgeon. Strumosus contains the Latin word struma which refers to a swelling or tumor.[3]
Referencesedit
^Williams, J.T.; Craig, M.T. (2015). "Gobiesox strumosus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T186005A1802775. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T186005A1802775.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
^ abcdefChesapeake Bay Program. "Skilletfish – Chesapeake Bay Program". www.chesapeakebay.net. Retrieved 2016-04-30.
^ abcdFroese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2019). "Gobiesox strumosus" in FishBase. April 2019 version.
^Bergeson, C.A.E (1982). "Observations on Aquarium Maintenance of the Skilletfish, Gobiesox strumosus". American Currents.
gobiesox, strumosus, skilletfish, member, family, gobiesocidae, composed, clingfishes, these, mainly, marine, tropical, temperate, fishes, characterized, powerful, sucking, disk, underside, forebody, skilletfish, conservation, status, least, concern, iucn, sci. The skilletfish Gobiesox strumosus is a member of the family Gobiesocidae composed of clingfishes These are mainly marine tropical and temperate fishes characterized by a powerful sucking disk on the underside of the forebody 2 skilletfish Conservation status Least Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Actinopterygii Order Gobiesociformes Family Gobiesocidae Genus Gobiesox Species G strumosus Binomial name Gobiesox strumosusCope 1870 Contents 1 Description 2 Diet 3 Habitat 4 Reproduction and life cycle 5 Distribution 6 Etymology 7 ReferencesDescription editThe skilletfish has a frying pan shaped body which can grow to about 3 inches in length The body is compressed dorsoventrally with the head being wider than the body Tiny eyes are located on top of the head The fish also has strong teeth and fleshy lips Color varies from a pale gray to dark brown with a mottled pattern 2 About 6 faint lines radiate from eye 3 The fish also has a dark band at the base of its rounded tail fin Modified pelvic fins form a large suction disc on the underside of the body 2 The dorsal and ventral fins are set fairly far back on the body 4 Diet editSkilletfish primarily feed on bristle worms and small crustaceans such as amphipods and isopods 2 Habitat editUsually lives among oyster reefs but may also be found within eelgrass beds Stays in shallow waters near the shore during warmer months but will move to deeper waters in winter Almost always clings to rocks or shells with suction disc 2 Reproduction and life cycle editFor the skilletfish spawning occurs between April and August The female will lay a few hundred sticky amber colored eggs into an empty oyster shell which the male will then protect until they hatch 2 Upon hatching the fish is 2 4 3 4 mm long and it generally grows about 9 mm during development eventually reaching 40 45 mm long when it is time for the first reproductionDistribution editThe skilletfish can be found in the Western Atlantic Bermuda New Jersey and northern Gulf of Mexico in USA to southeastern Brazil It is absent from the Bahamas It can also be found in the Eastern Central Pacific coastal lagoons and tidal flats of Sonora Sinaloa and Nayarit Mexico 3 The skillet ranges from New Jersey and New York in the northern end of its distribution south to Brazil also occurring in the West Indies and the Gulf of Mexico 3 Etymology editIn Latin Gobiesox means gobius which can equate to gudgeon Strumosus contains the Latin word struma which refers to a swelling or tumor 3 References edit Williams J T Craig M T 2015 Gobiesox strumosus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015 e T186005A1802775 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2015 2 RLTS T186005A1802775 en Retrieved 20 November 2021 a b c d e f Chesapeake Bay Program Skilletfish Chesapeake Bay Program www chesapeakebay net Retrieved 2016 04 30 a b c d Froese Rainer Pauly Daniel eds 2019 Gobiesox strumosus in FishBase April 2019 version Bergeson C A E 1982 Observations on Aquarium Maintenance of the Skilletfish Gobiesox strumosus American Currents 1 The River Project Unpublished Data verification needed nbsp This Gobiesociformes related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gobiesox strumosus amp oldid 1153997933, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
