Synchiropus splendidus, the mandarinfish or mandarin dragonet, is a small, brightly colored member of the dragonet family, which is popular in the saltwater aquarium trade. The mandarinfish is native to the Pacific, ranging approximately from the Ryukyu Islands south to Australia. It can usually be found in some of the warmer waters.
The mandarinfish was first described as Callionymus splendidus in 1927 by Albert William Herre, an American ichthyologist working in the Philippines.[1] It was later placed in genus Synchiropus. The generic name Synchiropus is from Ancient Greeksyn-, meaning "together", and -chiropus meaning "hand-foot".[2] The specific epithet splendidus is from the Latin for 'bright' or 'glittering.'[3] The common name of the mandarinfish comes from its extremely vivid colouration, evoking the robes of an Imperial Chinese mandarin.[4] Other common names include mandarin goby, green mandarin, striped mandarinfish, striped dragonet, green dragonet and sometimes psychedelic mandarinfish.[5][6][7] The similarly named mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi), properly known as the Chinese perch, is distantly related.
The mandarinfish belongs to the perciform family Callionymidae, the dragonets, which counts 10 genera and more than 182 species. Genus Synchiropus counts 51 species, divided into 10 subgenera. The mandarinfish is in subgenus Synchiropus (Pterosynchiropus) along with the S. occidentalis and S. picturatus.[8]
Description
Green mandarin in a reef aquarium
The mandarinfish viewed from the front
S. splendidus is one of only two vertebrate species known to have blue colouring because of cellular pigment, the other being the closely related psychedelic mandarin (S. picturatus). The name "cyanophore" was proposed for the blue chromatophores, or pigment-containing and light-reflecting cells. In all other known cases, the colour blue is structural, as it comes from thin-film interference from piles of flat, thin and reflecting purine crystals.[9] The mandarinfish has a body shape similar to a goby, though this is the only resemblance between the two. The vivid coloration sports a bright blue background, with swirly orange stripes and a blue-greenish face with bold blue stripes. The large pelvic fins are used for 'walking' on the seafloor and are often mistakenly seen as the pectoral fins. The real pectorals are located almost at the center and are nearly transparent, with a tinge of fin, the anal fins and on part of the tail, the rest of which is striped in vibrant orange and blue. The dorsal fin, which is exceptionally tall in males, has a striking orange-and blue design as well. The eyes are usually red with black pupils. Different varieties sport different markings and colors. The green mandarin is the fish that has been described. The red mandarin is the same species, but its pelvic fins and what would be orange is red. In some rare cases, the entire dragonet is red with black stripes. The spotted mandarin is light gray-green with black, pink and blue spots.
Mandarinfish are reef dwellers, preferring sheltered lagoons and inshore reefs. While they are slow-moving and fairly common within their range, they are not easily seen due to their bottom-feeding habit and their small size (reaching only about 6 cm). They feed primarily on small crustaceans and other invertebrates.
Diet
Based on the gut analyses of seven wild fish Sadovy et al. (2001) determined that the mandarinfish has a mixed diet that consists of harpacticoid copepods, polychaete worms, small gastropods, gammaridean amphipods, fish eggs and ostracods. In the wild, feeding is continuous during daytime; the fish peck selectively at small prey trapped on coral substrate in a home range of many square meters.[10]
Relationship to humans
Despite their popularity in the aquarium trade, mandarinfish are considered difficult to keep, as their feeding habits are very specific. Some fish never adapt to aquarium life, refusing to eat anything but live amphipods and copepods (as in the wild); though individuals that do acclimatize to aquarium food are considered to be quite hardy and highly resistant to diseases such as marine ich. They are less likely to contract marine ich because they do not have the typical skin type that is affected by this disease. Mandarinfish also have a layer of debatably smelly and bitter slime instead of scales, which blocks out disease and probably also discourages predators, implying their bright coloration is aposematic.[11]
^Pietsch, T. W.; Anderson, W. D. Jr., eds. (1997). "Albert William Christian Theodore Herre (1868-1962): A brief autobiography and a bibliography of his ichthyological and fishery science publications, with a foreword by George S. Myers (1905-1985); Collection Building in Ichthyology and Herpetology". American Society of Ichthyology and Herpetology, Special Publications. 3: 351–366.
^Humphreys, W. F.; W. A. Shear (1993). "Troglobitic Millipedes (Diplopoda, Paradoxosomatidae) from semi-arid Cape Range, Western Australia: systematics and biology". Invertebrate Taxonomy. 7 (1): 173–195. doi:10.1071/IT9930173.
^Perseus & Tufts: Latin Word Study Tool Lewis & Short (1879)
^Mills, Dick (December 1, 2004). The marine aquarium: comprehensive coverage, from setting up an aquarium to choosing the best fishes. Mini Encyclopedia. Barron's Educational Series. p. 200. ISBN0-7641-2987-2.
^Crow, Richard; Alice Burkhart; Dave Keeley (2002). Pocket Guide to the Care and Maintenance of Aquarium Fish. PRC Publishing. p. 247. ISBN1-85648-632-X. Retrieved 2009-09-08.
^Hauter, Stan; Debbie Hauter. . Saltwater Aquariums. About.com. Archived from the original on 22 July 2009. Retrieved 8 September 2009.
^Avila, Marcos A. "Synchiropus picturatus". Saltwater Fish. Age of Aquariums. Retrieved 8 September 2009.
^Fricke, R. (2002). "Annotated Checklist of the Dragonet Families Callionymidae and Draconettidae (Teleostei: Callionymoidei), with Comments on Callionymid Fish Classification" (PDF). Stuttgarter Beiträge zur Naturkunde Serie A (Biologie). 645: 1–103. Retrieved 2009-09-08.[permanent dead link]
^Goda, M.; R. Fujii (2009). "Blue Chromatophores in Two Species of Callionymid Fish". Zoological Science. 12 (6): 811–813. doi:10.2108/zsj.12.811.
^Sadovy, Yvonne; George Mitcheson; Maria B. Rasotto (December 2001). "Early Development of the Mandarinfish, Synchiropus splendidus (Callionymidae), with notes on its Fishery and Potential for Culture". Aquarium Sciences and Conservation. Springer Netherlands. 3 (4): 253–263. doi:10.1023/A:1013168029479.
^Sadovy, Y.; Randall, J. E.; Rasotto, Maria B. (May 2005). "Skin structure in six dragonet species (Gobiesociformes; Callionymidae): Interspecific differences in glandular cell types and mucus secretion". Journal of Fish Biology. 66 (5): 1411–1418. doi:10.1111/j.0022-1112.2005.00692.x.
^"Micronesia: 40c Fish – Mandarinfish". Stamp Supply Selections. Seaside Book & Stamp. 2 November 2006. Retrieved 8 September 2009.[permanent dead link]
Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2005). "Synchiropus splendidus" in FishBase. 10 2005 version.
Zeng, Shao, L., Ricketts, A., & Moorhead, J. (2018). The importance of copepods as live feed for larval rearing of the green mandarin fish Synchiropus splendidus. Aquaculture, 491, 65–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2018.03.011
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Synchiropus splendidus.
Wikispecies has information related to Synchiropus splendidus.
Photos of Synchiropus splendidus on Sealife Collection
February 09, 2023
synchiropus, splendidus, mandarinfish, mandarin, dragonet, small, brightly, colored, member, dragonet, family, which, popular, saltwater, aquarium, trade, mandarinfish, native, pacific, ranging, approximately, from, ryukyu, islands, south, australia, usually, . Synchiropus splendidus the mandarinfish or mandarin dragonet is a small brightly colored member of the dragonet family which is popular in the saltwater aquarium trade The mandarinfish is native to the Pacific ranging approximately from the Ryukyu Islands south to Australia It can usually be found in some of the warmer waters Synchiropus splendidusConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ActinopterygiiOrder CallionymiformesFamily CallionymidaeGenus SynchiropusSpecies S splendidusBinomial nameSynchiropus splendidus Herre 1927 SynonymsCallionymus splendidus Herre 1927 Neosynchiropus splendidus Herre 1927 Pterosynchiropus splendidus Herre 1927 Contents 1 Taxonomy and etymology 2 Description 2 1 Diet 3 Relationship to humans 4 References 5 External linksTaxonomy and etymology EditThe mandarinfish was first described as Callionymus splendidus in 1927 by Albert William Herre an American ichthyologist working in the Philippines 1 It was later placed in genus Synchiropus The generic name Synchiropus is from Ancient Greek syn meaning together and chiropus meaning hand foot 2 The specific epithet splendidus is from the Latin for bright or glittering 3 The common name of the mandarinfish comes from its extremely vivid colouration evoking the robes of an Imperial Chinese mandarin 4 Other common names include mandarin goby green mandarin striped mandarinfish striped dragonet green dragonet and sometimes psychedelic mandarinfish 5 6 7 The similarly named mandarin fish Siniperca chuatsi properly known as the Chinese perch is distantly related The mandarinfish belongs to the perciform family Callionymidae the dragonets which counts 10 genera and more than 182 species Genus Synchiropus counts 51 species divided into 10 subgenera The mandarinfish is in subgenus Synchiropus Pterosynchiropus along with the S occidentalis and S picturatus 8 Description Edit Green mandarin in a reef aquarium The mandarinfish viewed from the front S splendidus is one of only two vertebrate species known to have blue colouring because of cellular pigment the other being the closely related psychedelic mandarin S picturatus The name cyanophore was proposed for the blue chromatophores or pigment containing and light reflecting cells In all other known cases the colour blue is structural as it comes from thin film interference from piles of flat thin and reflecting purine crystals 9 The mandarinfish has a body shape similar to a goby though this is the only resemblance between the two The vivid coloration sports a bright blue background with swirly orange stripes and a blue greenish face with bold blue stripes The large pelvic fins are used for walking on the seafloor and are often mistakenly seen as the pectoral fins The real pectorals are located almost at the center and are nearly transparent with a tinge of fin the anal fins and on part of the tail the rest of which is striped in vibrant orange and blue The dorsal fin which is exceptionally tall in males has a striking orange and blue design as well The eyes are usually red with black pupils Different varieties sport different markings and colors The green mandarin is the fish that has been described The red mandarin is the same species but its pelvic fins and what would be orange is red In some rare cases the entire dragonet is red with black stripes The spotted mandarin is light gray green with black pink and blue spots Mandarinfish are reef dwellers preferring sheltered lagoons and inshore reefs While they are slow moving and fairly common within their range they are not easily seen due to their bottom feeding habit and their small size reaching only about 6 cm They feed primarily on small crustaceans and other invertebrates Diet Edit Based on the gut analyses of seven wild fish Sadovy et al 2001 determined that the mandarinfish has a mixed diet that consists of harpacticoid copepods polychaete worms small gastropods gammaridean amphipods fish eggs and ostracods In the wild feeding is continuous during daytime the fish peck selectively at small prey trapped on coral substrate in a home range of many square meters 10 Relationship to humans EditDespite their popularity in the aquarium trade mandarinfish are considered difficult to keep as their feeding habits are very specific Some fish never adapt to aquarium life refusing to eat anything but live amphipods and copepods as in the wild though individuals that do acclimatize to aquarium food are considered to be quite hardy and highly resistant to diseases such as marine ich They are less likely to contract marine ich because they do not have the typical skin type that is affected by this disease Mandarinfish also have a layer of debatably smelly and bitter slime instead of scales which blocks out disease and probably also discourages predators implying their bright coloration is aposematic 11 The mandarinfish appeared on a 39 kip postage stamp from Laos issued in 1987 and a 40 cent postage stamp of the Federated States of Micronesia issued on 26 August 1993 12 13 References Edit Pietsch T W Anderson W D Jr eds 1997 Albert William Christian Theodore Herre 1868 1962 A brief autobiography and a bibliography of his ichthyological and fishery science publications with a foreword by George S Myers 1905 1985 Collection Building in Ichthyology and Herpetology American Society of Ichthyology and Herpetology Special Publications 3 351 366 Humphreys W F W A Shear 1993 Troglobitic Millipedes Diplopoda Paradoxosomatidae from semi arid Cape Range Western Australia systematics and biology Invertebrate Taxonomy 7 1 173 195 doi 10 1071 IT9930173 Perseus amp Tufts Latin Word Study Tool Lewis amp Short 1879 Mills Dick December 1 2004 The marine aquarium comprehensive coverage from setting up an aquarium to choosing the best fishes Mini Encyclopedia Barron s Educational Series p 200 ISBN 0 7641 2987 2 Crow Richard Alice Burkhart Dave Keeley 2002 Pocket Guide to the Care and Maintenance of Aquarium Fish PRC Publishing p 247 ISBN 1 85648 632 X Retrieved 2009 09 08 Hauter Stan Debbie Hauter Striped Mandarinfish Profile Saltwater Aquariums About com Archived from the original on 22 July 2009 Retrieved 8 September 2009 Avila Marcos A Synchiropus picturatus Saltwater Fish Age of Aquariums Retrieved 8 September 2009 Fricke R 2002 Annotated Checklist of the Dragonet Families Callionymidae and Draconettidae Teleostei Callionymoidei with Comments on Callionymid Fish Classification PDF Stuttgarter Beitrage zur Naturkunde Serie A Biologie 645 1 103 Retrieved 2009 09 08 permanent dead link Goda M R Fujii 2009 Blue Chromatophores in Two Species of Callionymid Fish Zoological Science 12 6 811 813 doi 10 2108 zsj 12 811 Sadovy Yvonne George Mitcheson Maria B Rasotto December 2001 Early Development of the Mandarinfish Synchiropus splendidus Callionymidae with notes on its Fishery and Potential for Culture Aquarium Sciences and Conservation Springer Netherlands 3 4 253 263 doi 10 1023 A 1013168029479 Sadovy Y Randall J E Rasotto Maria B May 2005 Skin structure in six dragonet species Gobiesociformes Callionymidae Interspecific differences in glandular cell types and mucus secretion Journal of Fish Biology 66 5 1411 1418 doi 10 1111 j 0022 1112 2005 00692 x Mandarinfish Stamp Collectors Catalogue Stamp Collectors Catalogue Retrieved 8 September 2009 Micronesia 40c Fish Mandarinfish Stamp Supply Selections Seaside Book amp Stamp 2 November 2006 Retrieved 8 September 2009 permanent dead link Synchiropus splendidus Integrated Taxonomic Information System Retrieved 24 January 2006 Froese Rainer Pauly Daniel eds 2005 Synchiropus splendidus in FishBase 10 2005 version Zeng Shao L Ricketts A amp Moorhead J 2018 The importance of copepods as live feed for larval rearing of the green mandarin fish Synchiropus splendidus Aquaculture 491 65 71 https doi org 10 1016 j aquaculture 2018 03 011External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Synchiropus splendidus Wikispecies has information related to Synchiropus splendidus Mandarinfish Species Profile AquariumDomain FishBase reference Caresheet at the Aquarium Wiki Photos of Synchiropus splendidus on Sealife Collection Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Synchiropus splendidus amp oldid 1136157354, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
