Lepadogaster purpurea, the Cornish sucker, is a species of clingfish from the familyGobiesocidae. It is found in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean and in the western Mediterranean Sea.
Lepadogaster purpurea has a rather tadpole-like shape with a small body and a large flattened head with large mouth shaped like the bill of a duck-and a tentacle is positioned to the rear of each nostril. The pelvic fins are fused and, together with their surrounding tissue. they form a suction disc or sucker. They are variable in colour, having the ability to alter their colouration to blending with the substrate they are clinging to, but normally they show a pale background with a patterning of bars and spots which can vary between dark purple to reddish brown and green. On the nape there are two bright blue ocelli, or eyespots, which are thought to be defensive and to confuse predators.[2] They grow to 7.5 centimetres (3.0 in) in standard length.[3]
Distributionedit
Lepadogaster purpurea occurs in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean from the Shetland Islands south to the Canary Islands and Dakar in Senegal. It is also found in the western Mediterranean Sea as far east as Cap Roux (near Cannes, France).[1]
Habitat and biologyedit
Lepadogaster purpurea just below and just above the low water market as deep as 9 metres (30 ft) where it hides under boulders on rocky shorelines. It spends long periods in shelters, normally with a favoured shelter in this habitat. When it detects potential prey near its shelter, L. purpurea waits for it to move closer and then it swims out to take the prey returning to the shelter straight away to eat the prey.[1]
Taxonomyedit
Lepadogaster purpurea is one of three species of Lepadogaster. L. purpurea was once synonymous with Lepadogaster zebrina, but has since been classified as its own species as L. zebrina has been discovered to be more synonymous with L. lepadogaster.[4] This species of Lepadogaster is found normally off the western coast of Portugal. L. purpurea differs from other Lepadogaster species in that it behaves in a much more passive manner. For example, studies have shown that L. purpurea was less active in its habitat and spent more time inside its shelter rather than interacting with other fish and swimming around.[5]L. purpurea also has different swim patterns in comparison to the other Lepadogaster species. L. purpurea generally swims at a much slower pace and doesn't make quick movements like the shore clingfish.[6]
Referencesedit
^ abcSmith-Vaniz, W.F. (2015). "Lepadogaster purpurea". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T198776A21907837. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T198776A21907837.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
^"Weird fish of the week: Cornish sucker". Practical Fish Keeping. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
^Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2019). "Lepdogaster purprea" in FishBase. April 2019 version.
^Henriques, M.; Lourenço, R.; Almada, F.; et al. (2002). "A revision of the status of Lepadogaster lepadogaster (Teleostei: Gobiesocidae): sympatric subspecies or a long misunderstood blend of species?". Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 76 (3): 327–338. doi:10.1046/j.1095-8312.2002.00067.x. hdl:10400.12/1305.
^Gonçalves, D. M.; Gonçalves, E. J.; Almada, V. C. & Almeida, S. P. (1998). "Comparative behavior of two species of Lepadogaster (Pisces: Gobiesocidae) living at different depths". Journal of Fish Biology. 53 (2): 447–450. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.1998.tb00992.x. hdl:10400.12/1341.
^Faria, A. M. & Gonçalves, E. J. (2010). "Ontogeny of swimming behaviour of two temperate clingfishes, Lepadogaster lepadogaster and L. purpurea (Gobiesocidae)". Marine Ecology Progress Series. 414: 237–248. doi:10.3354/meps08692. hdl:10400.1/12089.
December 15, 2023
lepadogaster, purpurea, cornish, sucker, species, clingfish, from, family, gobiesocidae, found, eastern, north, atlantic, ocean, western, mediterranean, conservation, statusleast, concern, iucn, scientific, classificationdomain, eukaryotakingdom, animaliaphylu. Lepadogaster purpurea the Cornish sucker is a species of clingfish from the family Gobiesocidae It is found in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean and in the western Mediterranean Sea Lepadogaster purpureaConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ActinopterygiiOrder GobiesociformesFamily GobiesocidaeGenus LepadogasterSpecies L purpureaBinomial nameLepadogaster purpurea Bonnaterre 1788 Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution 3 Habitat and biology 4 Taxonomy 5 ReferencesDescription editLepadogaster purpurea has a rather tadpole like shape with a small body and a large flattened head with large mouth shaped like the bill of a duck and a tentacle is positioned to the rear of each nostril The pelvic fins are fused and together with their surrounding tissue they form a suction disc or sucker They are variable in colour having the ability to alter their colouration to blending with the substrate they are clinging to but normally they show a pale background with a patterning of bars and spots which can vary between dark purple to reddish brown and green On the nape there are two bright blue ocelli or eyespots which are thought to be defensive and to confuse predators 2 They grow to 7 5 centimetres 3 0 in in standard length 3 Distribution editLepadogaster purpurea occurs in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean from the Shetland Islands south to the Canary Islands and Dakar in Senegal It is also found in the western Mediterranean Sea as far east as Cap Roux near Cannes France 1 Habitat and biology editLepadogaster purpurea just below and just above the low water market as deep as 9 metres 30 ft where it hides under boulders on rocky shorelines It spends long periods in shelters normally with a favoured shelter in this habitat When it detects potential prey near its shelter L purpurea waits for it to move closer and then it swims out to take the prey returning to the shelter straight away to eat the prey 1 Taxonomy editLepadogaster purpurea is one of three species of Lepadogaster L purpurea was once synonymous with Lepadogaster zebrina but has since been classified as its own species as L zebrina has been discovered to be more synonymous with L lepadogaster 4 This species of Lepadogaster is found normally off the western coast of Portugal L purpurea differs from other Lepadogaster species in that it behaves in a much more passive manner For example studies have shown that L purpurea was less active in its habitat and spent more time inside its shelter rather than interacting with other fish and swimming around 5 L purpurea also has different swim patterns in comparison to the other Lepadogaster species L purpurea generally swims at a much slower pace and doesn t make quick movements like the shore clingfish 6 References edit a b c Smith Vaniz W F 2015 Lepadogaster purpurea IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015 e T198776A21907837 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2015 4 RLTS T198776A21907837 en Retrieved 20 November 2021 Weird fish of the week Cornish sucker Practical Fish Keeping Retrieved 15 June 2019 Froese Rainer Pauly Daniel eds 2019 Lepdogaster purprea in FishBase April 2019 version Henriques M Lourenco R Almada F et al 2002 A revision of the status of Lepadogaster lepadogaster Teleostei Gobiesocidae sympatric subspecies or a long misunderstood blend of species Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 76 3 327 338 doi 10 1046 j 1095 8312 2002 00067 x hdl 10400 12 1305 Goncalves D M Goncalves E J Almada V C amp Almeida S P 1998 Comparative behavior of two species of Lepadogaster Pisces Gobiesocidae living at different depths Journal of Fish Biology 53 2 447 450 doi 10 1111 j 1095 8649 1998 tb00992 x hdl 10400 12 1341 Faria A M amp Goncalves E J 2010 Ontogeny of swimming behaviour of two temperate clingfishes Lepadogaster lepadogaster and L purpurea Gobiesocidae Marine Ecology Progress Series 414 237 248 doi 10 3354 meps08692 hdl 10400 1 12089 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lepadogaster purpurea amp oldid 1170911593, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
