Cheimarrichthys fosteri
Cheimarrichthys fosteri | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cheimarrichthys fosteri |
||||||||||||
Systematics | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
Scientific name of the family | ||||||||||||
Cheimarrichthyidae | ||||||||||||
Regan , 1913 | ||||||||||||
Scientific name of the genus | ||||||||||||
Cheimarrichthys | ||||||||||||
Haast , 1874 | ||||||||||||
Scientific name of the species | ||||||||||||
Cheimarrichthys fosteri | ||||||||||||
Haast, 1874 |
Cheimarrichthys fosteri is a loach-like fish from the group of perch relatives found in fast-flowing rivers in New Zealand .
features
Cheimarrichthys fosteri becomes a maximum of six inches long, but usually stays at ten to twelve centimeters. It has a loach-like shape, with a broad, flat head and a strong body. In adaptation to the lifestyle in strong currents, the pectoral and pelvic fins are wide. The pelvic fins are throaty and are located in front of the pectoral fins. The dorsal fin is preceded by three to four short, isolated hard rays. She herself is short and long. The anal fin is supported by one hard and 15 soft rays. The caudal fin is slightly forked. The mouth is small and cannot be pushed forward. The snout protrudes over the lower jaw. 50 scales can be counted along the lateral line organ.
Way of life
Cheimarrichthys fosteri has been little researched. It spawns in spring and is a marine larval stage. After the metamorphosis, the fry migrate into the rivers and spend the rest of their lives in fresh water. They live mainly in fast-flowing, larger rivers with rocky subsoil. The fish may be found at heights of 700 meters and up to 300 km from the coast. The fish feed on aquatic insects, which they catch from the rocks with their lower mouth.
literature
- Joseph S. Nelson : Fishes of the World. Wiley, New York 2006, ISBN 0-471-25031-7 .
- Kurt Fiedler: Textbook of Special Zoology, Volume II, Part 2: Fish . Gustav Fischer Verlag Jena, 1991, ISBN 3-334-00339-6 .
Web links
- Cheimarrichthys fosteri on Fishbase.org (English)
- Cheimarrhichthyidae on Fishbase.org (English)