Banjofish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Banjofish |
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The Banjos banjos, also known as the banjofish, is a type of ray-finned fish that lives in the ocean. It belongs to the family called Banjosidae. For a long time, people thought the banjofish was the only species in its family.
However, in 2017, scientists discovered two new types of banjofishes. These are the East Australian banjofish (B. aculeatus) and the Timor Sea banjofish (B. peregrinus). The banjofish lives in the Indo-Pacific region, which includes parts of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
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What Does the Banjofish Look Like?
The banjofish has a body that is deep and quite flat from side to side. Its head slopes steeply upwards. The top fin, called the dorsal fin, has 10 stiff spines and 12 soft rays. The fin on its underside, the anal fin, has 3 spines. One of these spines is much longer than the others. This fin also has 7 soft rays.
The tail fin, or caudal fin, is slightly notched. The banjofish also has a clear and unbroken lateral line along its side. This line helps the fish sense movements in the water.
Banjofish Colors and Markings
Banjofish are usually silvery-white to grayish-brown. Their bellies are lighter in color. The front part of their head is dark, but their lips are whitish.
The second dorsal fin has a white edge. It also has a large, round black spot near the front. The tail fin has a wide brown band near its outer edge. Younger banjofish have faint dark stripes on their sides. They also have a big black spot at the base of their tail. The longest banjofish ever recorded was about 20 centimetres (7.9 in) long.
Where Do Banjofish Live?
The banjofish lives in the Indo-West Pacific area. You can find them off the coast of Western Australia in the southeastern Indian Ocean. They also live near Indonesia, in the South China Sea, and all the way to Japan.
Banjofish Home and Habits
Banjofish are a type of inshore fish. This means they live closer to the coast. They can be found in waters that are between 50–400 metres (160–1,310 ft) deep.
How Scientists Named the Banjofish
The banjofish was first officially described in 1846. It was named Anoplus banjos by Sir John Richardson. He was a Scottish naval surgeon, naturalist, and arctic explorer. He found the first banjofish specimen in the Sea of Japan.
For a long time, B. banjos was thought to be the only species in the Banjosidae family. But in 2017, scientists Mizuki Matsunuma and Hiroyuki Motomura described two new species. These were the East Australian banjofish (Banjos acuteatus) and the Timor Sea banjofish (Banjos peregrinus). They also found a new subspecies of B. banjos.
Types of Banjofish
Today, scientists recognize two different subspecies of Banjos banjos:
- Banjos banjos banjos (Richardson, 1846) - This is the original subspecies. It lives in the western Pacific Ocean.
- Banjos banjos brevispinis Matsunuma & Motomura, 2017 - This subspecies lives in the Indian Ocean. It is also called the Western Australian banjofish.
