Pholidichthys leucotaenia, commonly known as the convict blenny/goby or the engineer blenny/goby, is a marine fish from the west-central Pacific Ocean. Despite its common names, it is neither a blenny nor a goby, but is in fact one of two species in the familyPholidichthyidae.
A small eel-shaped fish, it can grow up to 60 cm (24 in) in length. Juveniles resemble the striped catfish Plotosus lineatus, which is venomous, having a black body with a white dorsal stripe. As they develop, the stripe changes to white convict-style barring or spotting in the adult.
Ecologyedit
Two P. leucotaenia
P. leucotaenia lives in shallow lagoons and on coastal reefs from the Philippines to the Solomon Islands. It is often found in schools under ledges or around coral heads. These schools swim in such tight formations, they resemble a single organism. Occasionally, the species is found in the aquarium trade, where it is known for disrupting all but the most stable structures.[2]
DNA analyses show this species to be neither a blenny nor a goby, but part of a separate fish family, the Pholidichthyidae.[3]
In the Solomon Islands, researchers under Eugenie Clark found juveniles emerging from holes in the seafloor and adjoining coral reefs. By day, these juveniles swim up to 50 m (55 yd) from their home burrows to feed on plankton. At the end of the day, all returned to the burrows, remarkable and unique behaviour for larval fish.
Over the course of the first year in captivity, the engineer goby fry will gradually change color as it grows up to 1 cm per month.
While their young are out feeding, the parents eject mouthfuls of debris from the burrows. In a single day as much as 3 kg (6.6 lb) of sand might be collected and spat out of the hole by the parents.[4] Research has revealed a maze of tunnels and chambers totaling a length of some 6 m. At night, young fish dangle by their mouths from the roof of the tunnels by thin mucous threads.
Adults may grow to almost 60 cm (24 in),[3] but never leave the tunnels to feed. They frequently take in mouthfuls of juveniles and spit them out again. An inspection of adult stomachs showed only a green slime.[3]
Referencesedit
Springer, Victor G.; Freihofer, Warren C. (1976). "Study of the monotypic fish family Pholidichthyidae (Perciformes)". Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology. 216. Washington, D.C: Smithsonian Institution Press: 1–43. doi:10.5479/si.00810282.216. hdl:10088/5213.
^Fenner, Bob. "Convict Blennies, Family Pholidichthyidae". Wet Web Media.com. Retrieved 2011-03-13.
^ abcKaufmann, Carol (June 2005). . National Geographic Interactive Edition. National Geographic Society. Archived from the original on March 27, 2008.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pholidichthys leucotaenia.
Photos of Pholidichthys leucotaenia on Sealife Collection
January 01, 1970
pholidichthys, leucotaenia, commonly, known, convict, blenny, goby, engineer, blenny, goby, marine, fish, from, west, central, pacific, ocean, despite, common, names, neither, blenny, goby, fact, species, family, pholidichthyidae, scientific, classification, d. Pholidichthys leucotaenia commonly known as the convict blenny goby or the engineer blenny goby is a marine fish from the west central Pacific Ocean Despite its common names it is neither a blenny nor a goby but is in fact one of two species in the family Pholidichthyidae Pholidichthys leucotaenia Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Actinopterygii Order Cichliformes Family Pholidichthyidae Genus Pholidichthys Species P leucotaenia Binomial name Pholidichthys leucotaeniaBleeker 1856 1 Synonyms Brotulophis argentistriatus Kaup 1858 1 source source source source source source source source Pholidichthys leucotaenia in a tank Contents 1 Description 2 Ecology 3 References 4 External linksDescription editA small eel shaped fish it can grow up to 60 cm 24 in in length Juveniles resemble the striped catfish Plotosus lineatus which is venomous having a black body with a white dorsal stripe As they develop the stripe changes to white convict style barring or spotting in the adult Ecology edit nbsp Two P leucotaenia P leucotaenia lives in shallow lagoons and on coastal reefs from the Philippines to the Solomon Islands It is often found in schools under ledges or around coral heads These schools swim in such tight formations they resemble a single organism Occasionally the species is found in the aquarium trade where it is known for disrupting all but the most stable structures 2 DNA analyses show this species to be neither a blenny nor a goby but part of a separate fish family the Pholidichthyidae 3 In the Solomon Islands researchers under Eugenie Clark found juveniles emerging from holes in the seafloor and adjoining coral reefs By day these juveniles swim up to 50 m 55 yd from their home burrows to feed on plankton At the end of the day all returned to the burrows remarkable and unique behaviour for larval fish Over the course of the first year in captivity the engineer goby fry will gradually change color as it grows up to 1 cm per month While their young are out feeding the parents eject mouthfuls of debris from the burrows In a single day as much as 3 kg 6 6 lb of sand might be collected and spat out of the hole by the parents 4 Research has revealed a maze of tunnels and chambers totaling a length of some 6 m At night young fish dangle by their mouths from the roof of the tunnels by thin mucous threads Adults may grow to almost 60 cm 24 in 3 but never leave the tunnels to feed They frequently take in mouthfuls of juveniles and spit them out again An inspection of adult stomachs showed only a green slime 3 References editSpringer Victor G Freihofer Warren C 1976 Study of the monotypic fish family Pholidichthyidae Perciformes Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 216 Washington D C Smithsonian Institution Press 1 43 doi 10 5479 si 00810282 216 hdl 10088 5213 a b Bailly N 2010 Bailly N ed Pholidichthys leucotaenia Bleeker 1856 FishBase World Register of Marine Species Retrieved 2011 12 20 Fenner Bob Convict Blennies Family Pholidichthyidae Wet Web Media com Retrieved 2011 03 13 a b c Kaufmann Carol June 2005 Research amp Exploration Clues From a Convict National Geographic Interactive Edition National Geographic Society Archived from the original on March 27 2008 Life by BBC 2009 pg 64 ISBN 978 1846076428External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pholidichthys leucotaenia Photos of Pholidichthys leucotaenia on Sealife Collection Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pholidichthys leucotaenia amp oldid 1192324024, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
