Overview
The surfperches are a family, Embiotocidae, of fishes. They are found in coastal waters of the northern Pacific and grow up to 45 cm (17.7 inches) long.
They are viviparous fishes, in which the embryo is nourished directly by the mother as well as the yolk. This gives the family its scientific name, from Greek embios meaning "persistent" and tokos meaning "birth".
Species
There are 22 species in 13 genera:
- Genus Amphistichus
- Barred surfperch, Amphistichus argenteus (Gibbons, 1854).
- Calico surfperch, Amphistichus koelzi (Hubbs, 1933).
- Redtail surfperch, Amphistichus rhodoterus (Agassiz, 1854).
- Genus Brachyistius
- Brachyistius aletes (Tarp, 1952).
- Kelp perch, Brachyistius frenatus Gill, 1862.
- Genus Cymatogaster
- Shiner perch, Cymatogaster aggregata Gibbons, 1854.
- Genus Ditrema
- Ditrema temminckii Bleeker, 1853.
- Ditrema viride Oshima, 1955.
- Genus Embiotoca
- Black perch, Embiotoca jacksoni Agassiz, 1853.
Black surfperch (Embiotoca jacksoni) at the New England Aquarium. - Striped seaperch, Embiotoca lateralis Agassiz, 1854.
- Black perch, Embiotoca jacksoni Agassiz, 1853.
- Genus Hyperprosopon
- Spotfin surfperch, Hyperprosopon anale Agassiz, 1861.
- Walleye surfperch, Hyperprosopon argenteum Gibbons, 1854.
- Silver surfperch, Hyperprosopon ellipticum (Gibbons, 1854).
- Genus Hypsurus
- Rainbow seaperch, Hypsurus caryi (Agassiz, 1853).
- Genus Hysterocarpus
- Tule perch, Hysterocarpus traskii Gibbons, 1854.
- Genus Micrometrus
- Reef perch, Micrometrus aurora (Jordan & Gilbert, 1880).
- Dwarf perch, Micrometrus minimus (Gibbons, 1854).
- Genus Neoditrema
- Neoditrema ransonnetii Steindachner, 1883.
- Genus Phanerodon
- Sharpnose seaperch, Phanerodon atripes (Jordan & Gilbert, 1880).
- White seaperch, Phanerodon furcatus Girard, 1854.
- Genus Rhacochilus
- Rubberlip seaperch, Rhacochilus toxotes Agassiz, 1854.
- Pile perch, Rhacochilus vacca (Girard, 1855).
- Genus Zalembius
- Pink seaperch, Zalembius rosaceus (Jordan & Gilbert, 1880).
Photos
Taxonomy
The Family Embiotocidae is further organized into finer groupings including:
- Genus (20): Abeona · Amphistichus · Amphisticus · Brachyistius · Cymatogaster · Ditrema · Ditreme · Embiotoca · Holconotus · Hyperprosodon · Hyperprosopon · Hypocritichthys · Hypsurus · Hysterocarpus · Micrometrus · Neoditrema · Phanerodon · Rhacochilus · Tocichthys · Zalembius
- Species: ZipcodeZoo has pages for 56 species and subspecies in the Family Embiotocidae.
Genera
Abeona
In , Abeona was a goddess who protected children the first time they left their parents' home, safeguarding their first steps alone. [more]
Amphistichus
Amphisticus
Brachyistius
Cymatogaster
The shiner perch Cymatogaster aggregata is a common (Embiotocidae) found in estuaries, lagoons, and coastal streams along the Pacific coast from Alaska to Baja California. It is the sole member of its genus. [more]
Ditrema
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]
Ditreme
Embiotoca
Holconotus
Hyperprosodon
Hyperprosopon
Hypocritichthys
Hypsurus
Hysterocarpus
The tule perch Hysterocarpus traskii is a (Embiotocidae) native to the rivers and estuaries of central California, United States of America. It is the sole member of its genus, and the only freshwater surfperch. [more]
Micrometrus
Neoditrema
Phanerodon
Rhacochilus
Tocichthys
Zalembius
At least 5 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Zalembius.
More info about the Genus Zalembius may be found here.
References
- "Embiotocidae". FishBase. Ed. Rainer Froese and Daniel Pauly. January 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
Sources
- The text on this page is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It includes material from Wikipedia retrieved Friday, November 14, 2008.
- The distribution map on the Distribution tab comes from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility and is used with permission.
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