Spotted knightfish
| Spotted knightfish | ||||||||||||
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Young fish and adult animals |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Equetus punctatus | ||||||||||||
| ( Bloch & Schneider , 1801) | ||||||||||||
The spotted knightfish ( Equetus punctatus ) belongs to the umberfish family (Sciaenidae) and occurs in coral reefs around Bermuda , off Florida , off the coast of Yucatán and around the Bahamas and Antilles, and off the coast of Brazil .
features
Spotted knight fish have the typical black and white markings of their species. The first dorsal fin is very high and has a short fin base. The second dorsal fin and the caudal fin are black with white dots, the juvenile fish are still missing. Two dark bands run over the head, one over the eye, the other further back is more diagonal and ends in front of the base of the pectoral fin . A broad, dark band runs from the tip of the first dorsal fin to the center of the caudal fin stalk. Two more narrow bands run above and below it. The mouth is small and almost horizontal. The swim bladder is shaped like a carrot and has no branches. The otoliths are large and almost round. Spotted knight fish are 25 to 27 cm long.
Fin formula : Dorsal XI – XIII / 45–47, Anale II / 6–8,
Way of life
Spotted knightfish mainly inhabit protected areas of coral reefs and spend the day under overhangs or near the entrances to small caves. They go looking for food at night. Around 90% of their food is various crustaceans ( shrimp , crabs , sea lice), as well as bristle worms , mollusks and small fish. Your spawn drifts in the open water with the help of a small drop of oil.
literature
- Hans A. Baensch / Robert A. Patzner: Mergus Sea Water Atlas Volume 7 Perciformes (perch-like) , Mergus-Verlag, Melle, 1998, ISBN 3-88244-107-0
Web links
- Spotted Knightfish on Fishbase.org (English)