Black-striped salema facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black-striped salema |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Haemulidae |
| Subfamily: | Haemulinae |
| Genus: | Xenocys D. S. Jordan & Bollman, 1890 |
| Species: |
X. jessiae
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| Binomial name | |
| Xenocys jessiae D. S. Jordan & Bollman, 1890
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| Synonyms | |
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Brachygenys jessiae (D.S. Jordan & Bollman, 1890) |
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The black-striped salema (Xenocys jessiae) is a type of ray-finned fish that lives in the ocean. It belongs to the grunt family, called Haemulidae. This fish is special because it is found only in the eastern Pacific Ocean, especially around the Galápagos Islands.
What Does It Look Like?
The black-striped salema has a body that is quite long and thin. This makes it look different from many other fish in its family.
Its head is shaped like a cone. It has large eyes and a small mouth. The lower part of its jaw sticks out a little. This fish has very tiny teeth. These teeth are found in bands on its jaws and the roof of its mouth.
The fin on its back, called the dorsal fin, is not one continuous piece. It is split into two parts. The front part has 10 stiff spines. The back part has one spine and 13 to 14 soft rays. The fin on its belly, called the anal fin, has 3 small spines and 10 to 11 soft rays.
This fish can grow up to 30 centimeters (about 12 inches) long. Its back is a dark silvery-grey color. Sometimes, it can look yellowish-green, yellowish-blue, or blue-green. Its sides are a lighter silver. Its belly is silvery-white. A cool feature of this fish is the 7 black stripes that run along its sides.
Where Does It Live?
The black-striped salema lives in the eastern Pacific Ocean. It is found only in the waters around the Galápagos Islands. This means it is endemic to that area.
Life in the Ocean
You can find the black-striped salema in shallow waters. They live at depths from 0 to 20 meters (about 0 to 65 feet). These fish often form large, dense groups. They spend their days near rock walls and over rocky slopes.
The black-striped salema eats tiny ocean creatures called plankton. They also eat small fish. This species reproduces by laying eggs. They lay their eggs in distinct pairs.
Who Discovered This Fish?
The black-striped salema was first officially described in 1890. It was described by two American fish scientists. Their names were David Starr Jordan and Charles Harvey Bollman. They found the first example of this fish near Isla Santa Maria in the Galápagos Islands.
The name jessiae was chosen to honor Jordan's second wife, Jessie Knight Jordan.
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