This article is about a scientific family of fishes. For the mythological Greek nymphs, see Pegasides.
The seamoths make up a family of fishes, the Pegasidae, within the order Syngnathiformes. They are named for Pegasus, a creature from Greek mythology. Seamoths are notable for their unusual appearance, including flattened bodies, the presence of large, wing-like, pectoral fins, a long snout, and a body encased in thick, bony plates. They are found primarily in coastaltropical waters of the Indo-Pacific.[1]
Seamoths have modified pelvic fins that allow them to "walk" across the sea bottom where they live. Their jaws are ventral, located behind their long rostrum, and are toothless. Their mouth is highly specialized, and can form a tube-like mouth used to suck worms and other small invertebrates from their burrows.[2] They periodically molt their skin, perhaps as often as every five days.[3]
Conservationedit
Pegasus laternarius is listed as a Vulnerable species by the IUCN, while the remaining four species of seamoth remain Data Deficient. Threats to seamoths come from various sources, including fisheries where they are caught as bycatch or on purpose for use in traditional Chinese medicines. They are also collected for sale in the aquarium trade. Bottom trawls and coastal development may detrimentally alter habitat used by benthic seamoths. Life history characteristics such as low population sizes and monogamy with long-term pair bonding put them at risk of exploitation.[4][5][6][7][8]
Referencesedit
^Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2012). "Pegasidae" in FishBase. September 2012 version.
^Orr, J.W. & Pietsch, T.W. (1998). Paxton, J.R. & Eschmeyer, W.N. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Fishes. San Diego: Academic Press. p. 171. ISBN0-12-547665-5.
^Herold D, and Clark E. 1993. Monogamy, spawning, and skin-shedding of the seamoth, Eurypegasus draconis (Pisces: Pegasidae). Environmental Biology of Fishes 37:219-236.
^Pollom, R. (2017). "Eurypegasus draconis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T8407A67625953. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T8407A67625953.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
^Pollom, R. (2017). "Pegasus laternarius". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T16475A1073433. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T16475A1073433.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
^Vincent, A. (1996). "Pegasus lancifer". IUCN. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
pegasidae, this, article, about, scientific, family, fishes, mythological, greek, nymphs, pegasides, seamoths, make, family, fishes, within, order, syngnathiformes, they, named, pegasus, creature, from, greek, mythology, seamoths, notable, their, unusual, appe. This article is about a scientific family of fishes For the mythological Greek nymphs see Pegasides The seamoths make up a family of fishes the Pegasidae within the order Syngnathiformes They are named for Pegasus a creature from Greek mythology Seamoths are notable for their unusual appearance including flattened bodies the presence of large wing like pectoral fins a long snout and a body encased in thick bony plates They are found primarily in coastal tropical waters of the Indo Pacific 1 SeamothLittle dragonfish Eurypegasus draconisScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ActinopterygiiOrder SyngnathiformesSuborder SyngnathoideiSuperfamily PegasoideaFamily PegasidaeBonaparte 1831GeneraEurypegasusPegasusBiology editSeamoths have modified pelvic fins that allow them to walk across the sea bottom where they live Their jaws are ventral located behind their long rostrum and are toothless Their mouth is highly specialized and can form a tube like mouth used to suck worms and other small invertebrates from their burrows 2 They periodically molt their skin perhaps as often as every five days 3 Conservation editPegasus laternarius is listed as a Vulnerable species by the IUCN while the remaining four species of seamoth remain Data Deficient Threats to seamoths come from various sources including fisheries where they are caught as bycatch or on purpose for use in traditional Chinese medicines They are also collected for sale in the aquarium trade Bottom trawls and coastal development may detrimentally alter habitat used by benthic seamoths Life history characteristics such as low population sizes and monogamy with long term pair bonding put them at risk of exploitation 4 5 6 7 8 References edit Froese Rainer and Daniel Pauly eds 2012 Pegasidae in FishBase September 2012 version Orr J W amp Pietsch T W 1998 Paxton J R amp Eschmeyer W N eds Encyclopedia of Fishes San Diego Academic Press p 171 ISBN 0 12 547665 5 Herold D and Clark E 1993 Monogamy spawning and skin shedding of the seamoth Eurypegasus draconis Pisces Pegasidae Environmental Biology of Fishes 37 219 236 Pollom R 2017 Eurypegasus draconis IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017 e T8407A67625953 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2017 3 RLTS T8407A67625953 en Retrieved 20 November 2021 Pollom R 2017 Pegasus laternarius IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017 e T16475A1073433 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2017 3 RLTS T16475A1073433 en Retrieved 20 November 2021 Vincent A 1996 Pegasus lancifer IUCN Retrieved 6 September 2012 Sorensen M amp Vincent A 2010 Pegasus volitans IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010 Retrieved 6 September 2012 old form url Sorensen M amp Vincent A 2012 Pegasus papilio IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2012 Retrieved 6 September 2012 old form url nbsp This Gasterosteiformes related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pegasidae amp oldid 1213153777, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
