Anableps microlepis

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Anableps microlepis
Anableps microlepis from Meerzorg, Suriname
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cyprinodontiformes
Family: Anablepidae
Genus: Anableps
Species:
A. microlepis
Binomial name
Anableps microlepis
Synonyms[1]
  • Anableps coarctatus Valenciennes, 1846
  • Anableps elongatus Valenciennes, 1846

The finescaled four-eyed fish (Anableps microlepis) is a species of four-eyed fish found in coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean from Trinidad and Tobago down to southeastern Brazil.[2][3][4] They mostly inhabit brackish environments such as estuaries, mangrove swamps, and tidal mudflats. It grows to approximately 30 cm (12 in) in length.[2][5]

This fish mostly feeds on organic matter and small invertebrates. In Manzanilla, this fish was found to feed on sand crabs (Emerita portoricensis) and small bivalves (Donax denticulatus).[6] While looking for food, they travel up and down the coastline in large groups ranging from a dozen to more than a hundred fish.[6]

Like other members of Anableps, this species has eyes that are split into two lobes, allowing it to see above and below water at the same time.[7] They can be distinguished from the sympatric Anableps anableps by having smaller and more numerous scales (76-83 compared to the less than 64 of A. anableps).[5] They also have a left or right-leaning gonopodium like other Anablepidae members and give live birth.[8]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Anableps microlepis". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  2. ^ a b Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2022). "Anableps microlepis" in FishBase. February 2022 version.
  3. ^ "Anableps microlepis" at the Encyclopedia of Life
  4. ^ Garcia; et al. (May 2015). "Coastal fishes of Rio Grande do Norte, northeastern Brazil, with new records". Check List. 11 (3): 1–24 – via ResearchGate.
  5. ^ a b "Species: Anableps microlepis, Finescale four-eyes". Shorefishes. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  6. ^ a b Kerwath; et al. (January 2001). "Feeding habits of Anableps microlepis (Anablepidae, Cyprinodontiformes) from two ecologically different habitats in Trinidad, West Indies". Verhandlungen der Gesellschaft für Ichthyologie. 2: 119–129 – via ResearchGate.
  7. ^ Schwassmann; et al. (July 1966). "Experimental analysis of the visual system of the four-eyed fish Anableps microlepis". Vision Research. 5 (5): 269–281 – via ResearchGate.
  8. ^ Götz, Albrecht (June 1998). Field research on reproduction, growth and age of Anableps microlepis in Trinidad (Thesis). Institute of Zoology II Science Department II – via ResearchGate.