Hoplolatilus starcki

• Common Names
• Description
• Biology
• Taxonomy
• Similar Species
• More Info
• Further Reading
• Notes

Common Names

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Description

Family Malacanthidae

Distribution: Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific. Depth range 10-500 m (usually 50-200 m). One species (Malacanthus latovittatus) may be found in both marine and brackish water (Goldie River , New Guinea).(Ref. 8991). One relatively long dorsal fin; total dorsal fin rays 22-64. Relatively long anal fin; 1 or 2 weak spines; soft rays 14-56. Top of head with or without cutaneous ridge . Operculum with one blunt or sharp spine. Branchiostegal rays 6. Truncate , double emarginate , emarginate to forked caudal fin . Vertebrae 24, 25, or 27 (precaudal 10 or 11). Larvae with elaborate spines (elongated and serrate) on the head and scale[1]. All species live in a burrow, some in a large rubble mound of their own construction, in pairs or colonies. They feed on benthic invertebrates or zoopankton. Assumed to be nonguarders (RF). Most aquarium specimens are collected with poison and soon die. According to Dooley 1978[1], the tilefishes are comprised of two morphologically different and evolutionary distinct groups and are distinct enough to be separate families [Branchiostegidae: with genera Branchiostegus, Lopholatilus, Caulolatilus and Malacanthidae: with genera Hoplolatilus and Malacanthus].The family Malacanthidae belongs to the Class Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes ) and the Order Perciformes. It contains 5 genera and 40 species. It may be found in Marine and Brackish environments and is primarily Marine. Some members of this family are used in the aquarium trade. Reproductively, most members of this family are nonguarders. The main mode of swimming of adult fish in this family is subcarangiform. Compared with other fish, the activity level of this family tends to be normal. Members of this family have been dated back to the the Miocene epoch epoch. Etymology of this family name : Greek, mala = a lot of + Greek, akantha = thorn

Habitat

Inhabits patches of talus or rubble of steep outer reef slopes . Usually seen in pairs that quickly dive headfirst into their burrow when disturbed . Juveniles occasionally school with similarly colored juveniles of Pseudanthias pascalus.

Typically found in water with a depth of 0 to -1,204 meters (0 to -3,950 feet).[2]

Biome: Saltwater . Reef-associated .

Biology

Diet

Stomach contents of 6 adult specimens consisted of copepods (31.4% by volume), pelagic tunicates (31%, larvaceans , plus Oikopleura ), fish eggs (28.6%), siphonophores (5.5%), larval shrimps (1.2%), fish (0.8%), amphipods (0.7%), unidentified decapod larvae (0.5%), and heteropods (0.3)[1].

Taxonomy

Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name . Latest taxonomic scrutiny: Group expert : Dooley J., Data last modified by FishBase 19-Nov-1999

Similar Species

Members of the genus Hoplolatilus

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 12 species and subspecies in this genus:

H. chlupatyi (Chameleon Sand Tilefish) · H. cuniculus (Pale Sand Tilefish) · H. fourmanoiri (Yellow-Blotched Tilefish) · H. fronticinctus (Blue-Saddled Tilefish) · H. geo · H. luteus (Yellow Tilefish) · H. marcosi (Redback Sand Tilefish) · H. oreni · H. pohle · H. purpureus (Purple Sand Tilefish) · H. starcki (Purple-Headed Sand Tilefish) · H. starki (Galapagos Blenny)

More Info

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• Search using Specialized Databases: GenBank | Medline | Scirus | CISTI/CAL | Agricola Periodicals | Agricola Books

Further Reading

• Allen, G.R. and P.L. Munday (1994). Kimbe Bay rapid ecological assessment: the coral reefs of Kimbe Bay (West New Britain, Papua New Guinea), Volume 3: Fish diversity of Kimbe Bay. The Nature Conservancy, South Pacific program Office, Auckland, New Ze
• Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). London: BM(NH) ENG url p. 221.
• Fricke, R. (1981). Une nouvelle station d'Hoplolatilus starcki Randall et Dooley, 1974: les Philippines (Pisces, Perciformes, Percoidei, Malacanthidae). Rev. fr. Aquariol. 1. (with english summary)
• Kuiter, R. H. (1992). Tropical reef-fishes of the western Pacific Indonesia and adjacent waters. Gramedia Pustaka Utama, Jakarta. 314 p.
• Lieske, E. and R. Myers (1994). Collins Pocket Guide. Coral reef fishes. Indo-Pacific and Caribbean including the Red Sea. Haper Collins Publishers, 400 p.
• McCormack, G. (2000). Cook Islands biodiversity and natural heritage database. Sent by Gerald McCormack as RTF document in May 2000 for use in FishBase.
• Myers, R.F. (1991). Micronesian reef fishes. Second Ed. Coral Graphics, Barrigada, Guam. 298 p.
• Myers, R.F. (1999). Micronesian reef fishes: a comprehensive guide to the coral reef fishes of Micronesia, 3rd revised and expanded edition. Coral Graphics, Barrigada, Guam. 330 p.
• Randall, J.E. (1981). A review of the Indo-Pacific sand tilefish genus Hopololatilus (Perciformes: Malacanthidae). Aquarium 4(12):39-46.
• Randall, J.E. (1986). 106 new records of fishes from the Marshall Islands. Bull. Mar. Sci. 38(1):170-252.
• Randall, J.E. (1997). Randall's underwater photos. Collection of over 2, 000 underwater photos (slides). Unpublished.

Notes

Contributors

• Bisby, F.A., Y.R. Roskov, M.A. Ruggiero, T.M. Orrell, L.E. Paglinawan, P.W. Brewer, N. Bailly, J. van Hertum, eds (2007). Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2007 Annual Checklist. Species 2000: Reading, U.K.
• Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-2006. Systema Naturae 2000. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Accessed October 8, 2006.
• Dooley, James (from FishBase).
• FishBase 2006.
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Accessed March 05, 2008. http://www.gbif.org Mediated distribution data from 4 providers.

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal March 05, 2008:

• Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum: Bishop Museum Natural History Specimen Data
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Bishop Museum Data (OBIS distribution) (USOBIS)
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Northern Barrier Marine Life (OBIS Australia)
• Museum national d'histoire naturelle: Ichtyologie
• OZCAM (Online Zoological Collections of Australian Museums) Provider: Online Zoological Collections of Australian Museums
• Senckenberg: Collection Pisces

Identifiers

• Biodiversity Heritage Library NamebankID: 2494218
• Catalogue of Life Accepted Name Code: Fis-31539
• Fishbase Species ID: 5794
• Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN): 645755
• Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 113299

Footnotes

1. Dooley, J.K. (1978). Systematics and biology of the tilefishes (Perciformes: Branchiostegidae and Malacanthidae) with descriptions of two new species. NOAA Tech. Rep. NMFS Circ. No. 411:1-78. [back]
2. Mean = -595.000 meters (-1,952.100 feet), Standard Deviation = 861.260 based on 2 observations. Ocean depth information for each observation from British Oceanographic Data Centre. [back]

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