Banded knight fish

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Banded knight fish
Young banded knightfish

Young banded knightfish

Systematics
Spinefish (Acanthopterygii)
Perch relatives (Percomorphaceae)
incertae sedis
Family : Umberfish (Sciaenidae)
Genre : Knightfish ( Equetus )
Type : Banded knight fish
Scientific name
Equetus lanceolatus
( Linnaeus , 1758)

The banded knightfish ( Equetus lanceolatus ) is a bony fish of the genus knightfish from the umber fish family that lives in coral reefs .

features

The banded knight fish is essentially black and white (silvery light gray). The first dorsal fin is extremely elongated, even for Umberfish ( fin formula : D1 XIII, D2 I / 45–55, A II / 6–8).

The total length of the fish rarely exceeds 25 cm.

The peculiar shape of the knight fish ( Equetus ) can only be explained with a somalytical function, ie in interaction with the contrasting coloration (cf. zebra ), a fish eater no longer recognizes the animal as a “fish” of its prey pattern; the whole thing also seems “too bulky” (for evolution, of course, sexual selection is added).

Because of its distinctive appearance, the "knight" would be an eye-catcher in the aquarium - but it is difficult to satisfy its nutritional requirements. "Knight" probably refers to the large dorsal fin, in which one can see a helmet, but also a lance ( lanceolatus : lanceolate; cf. English jackknife fish, "pocket knife fish"). When Linnaeus described the species, he counted it as Chaetodon ; Bloch summarized the genus Eques - but the name was already given to a butterfly that was also "knightly", which is why Rafinesque in 1816 invented the name "Equetus".

habitat

It inhabits the subtropical and tropical western Atlantic and the Caribbean from Bermuda to Brazil . It inhabits reefs at a depth of 10–60 m and lives on crustaceans , as well as worms, mollusks and small fish. The juvenile fish in particular live socially and pay attention to the proximity of hiding places. Two other species of the genus live in the Caribbean and on the other side of the isthmus in the Eastern Pacific (up to the Galapagos Islands) there are several species of Pareques - little is known about all of these, especially about their vocalization.

See also : Spotted Knightfish .

literature

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