Red pointed head slimy fish
| Red pointed head slimy fish | ||||||||||||
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Sexually mature male on the Croatian Adriatic coast near Rab |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Tripterygion tripteronotum | ||||||||||||
| ( Risso , 1810) |
The red pointed-headed slimy fish ( Tripterygion tripteronotum ) is a species from the three-fin fish family (Tripterygiidae). The bottom-dwelling species occurs in rocky, algae-grown habitats along the coast of the Mediterranean and the Black Sea at a depth of up to 3 m. The red pointed head slimy fish are among the most common to very common species in the Mediterranean. From April to August the sexually mature males of this species can be recognized by their red colored body and black colored head. Females and young males are beige to gray-brown and are difficult to spot on rocky ground. Red pointed-headed slimy fish feed on carnivore and mainly eat small invertebrates .
Anatomy and appearance
The red pointed-headed slimy fish is adapted to a hidden benthic way of life. As with many other bottom-dwelling fish, the swim bladder is reduced and the eyes are directed upwards. The size of the gill openings is also reduced compared to non-benthic fish.
As the Red Spitzkopf blenny to the group of mucus Fishy counts (Blennioidei), his throat constant ventral fin is stunted. The skin of the mucous fish-like is characteristically slimy and mostly scaly, only rarely covered with tiny ctenoid scales . Like all three-fin mucusfish, this species also has three dorsal fins that are not connected to one another. The first two dorsal fins consist of hard rays, the third of at least seven soft rays. The red pointed head slimy fish reach a size of 6–7 cm.
The species inhabits rocky and light-flooded habitats. Their body has a beige to gray-brown basic color. This makes them difficult to see on rocky ground. There are 4 wide, brown vertical stripes on the body of these fish. Another such stripe is on the tail keel. It is the same as the others in shape and color. During the breeding period, this species shows a strong sexual dimorphism . During this period, the territorial males differ greatly in color from their conspecifics. The body of the sexually mature males is then colored red. The head, throat and pelvic fins are black. Females and not sexually mature males are beige to gray-brown during this period as well. Since the males of the dwarf pointed head slime fish ( Tripterygion melanurus ) have the same coloration, there is a high risk of confusion. The males of these species can be distinguished based on their size. Adult Tripterygion tripteronotum males are never smaller than 5 cm. The males of the dwarf pointed head mucous fish, however, do not grow larger than 4.5 cm.
Distribution and way of life
The distribution area of the red pointed head mucous fish extends from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea. The red pointed-headed slimy fish is a member of the Tripterygion genus. This is the only genus of the Tripterygiidae family that occurs in the Mediterranean and North Atlantic. The animals prefer rocky, light-flooded and mostly algae-covered habitats near the coast. They occur at depths of up to 3 m. The adults live on the ground. In case of danger, they retreat to shady corners or under overhangs. This way of life is also known as crypto-benthic. The larvae live in the plankton for 17 to 18 days before switching to the benthic way of life.
Locomotion
The animals move over short distances exclusively with the help of their pectoral fins. This is done by repeated, synchronous beating of the pectoral fins. The upper rays of the pectoral fin move backwards and slightly downwards. This creates a slight lift. At the beginning of the pectoral fin flap, all three dorsal fins are upright. In the course of the blow, they are applied to the body. This type of movement is known as the labriform swimming style. The pectoral fins are also unwound over longer distances, but they remain angled. It is driven by undulating movement of the caudal fin and the body. Here the caudal fins and the third dorsal fin are spread apart. Since this type of locomotion is reminiscent of that of an eel, it is also known as the anguilliform swimming mode. The red pointed head slimefish moves labriform over short distances and anguilliform over long distances.
nutrition
The red pointed-headed slimy fish feeds mainly on small invertebrates (invertebrates) such as copepods , amphipods and ram crabs. He has tentacle-like growths in the nose and eye area, which are formed by skin flaps. It is believed that these are used to attract prey, as they are mistaken for food particles. The prey animals are sucked in by opening the mouth quickly. Lining that is stuck to the substrate is torn loose with the help of a sideways movement. The red pointed-headed slimy fish is not able to bite pieces out of larger food particles.
Reproduction
There are local differences in the mating period of the red pointed head mucous fish. In the Black Sea they mate from June to September, in the Mediterranean from April to August. The reason for this is probably the different water temperature. The males of the red pointed head mucous fish are territorial. However, they only defend their territory during the breeding period. The territories have an average size of 1 m². Within the territories, an area of 20 cm by 20 cm is used as a nesting site. During this period, they also have the red coloration typical of sexually mature males. In contrast to the males, the females stray. A female swimming past is pinned to the male by "swimming in the arrows". The male swims up by synchronously beating the pectoral fins and then slowly sinks again. A courting couple is often disturbed by small, not yet territorial males, who try to fertilize the eggs they have laid. Malfunctions from females also occur, but these are less common. Disturbing males and females are driven away by the courting couple. The females spawn between June and July. The female attaches egg by egg to the algae-covered substrate. The male fertilizes the eggs immediately after they are laid by the female. After laying eggs, the females leave the territory of the male. In the case of the red pointed head slimy fish, only the male takes care of the brood. It defends the eggs and keeps them free from fouling. The larvae live in open water near the coast for 17-18 days and then move on to life on the ground.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d e f Wirtz, P. (1978). "The behavior of the mediterranean tripterygion species (pisces, blennioidei)." Journal of Animal Psychology 48 (2): 142-174.
- ↑ Riedl, R., et al. (2011) Fauna and flora of the Mediterranean: a systematic marine guide for biologists and nature lovers, Seifert Verlag.
- ↑ a b Nelson, JS (2006). Fishes of the World, John Wiley & Sons
- ↑ a b c Louisy, P. and C. Ade (2002) Marine fish: Western Europe and the Mediterranean, Ulmer.
- ↑ a b c De Jonge, J. and J. Videler (1989). "Differences between the reproductive biologies of Tripterygion tripteronotus and T. delaisi (Pisces, Perciformes, Tripterygiidae): the adaptive significance of an alternative mating strategy and a red instead of a yellow nuptial color." Marine Biology 100 (4): 431-437.
- ↑ Carreras-Carbonell, J., et al. (2007). "A review of the Tripterygion tripteronotus (Risso, 1810) complex, with a description of a new species from the Mediterranean Sea (Teleostei: Tripterygiidae)." Scientia Marina 71 (1): 75-86.
- ↑ Domingues, VS, et al. (2007). "Phylogeography and evolution of the triplefin Tripterygion delaisi (Pisces, Blennioidei)." Marine Biology 150 (3): 509-519.
- ↑ Red Pointed-Head Schleimfisch on Fishbase.org (English)
