Bulldog dentex facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bulldog dentex |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Sparidae |
| Genus: | Virididentex Poll, 1971 |
| Species: |
V. acromegalus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Virididentex acromegalus (Osório, 1911)
|
|
| Script error: The function "autoWithCaption" does not exist. | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Species synonymy
|
|
Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".
The bulldog dentex (Virididentex acromegalus) is a type of ray-finned fish found in the ocean. It belongs to the family called Sparidae. This family includes many well-known fish like seabreams and porgies. The bulldog dentex is the only species in its monospecific genus Virididentex. This means it's a unique fish with no close relatives in its group. It lives only in the waters around Cape Verde.
Contents
What is a Bulldog Dentex?
The bulldog dentex was first officially described in 1911. A Portuguese biologist named Balthazar Osório gave it the name Dentex acromegalus. He found it near Santo Antão Island in Cape Verde.
Later, in 1971, another scientist named Max Poll decided this fish was special enough to have its own unique group. He placed it in a new monotypic genus called Virididentex. This means Virididentex has only one species: the bulldog dentex. This fish is part of the Sparidae family, which is a larger group of fish.
Why is it Called That?
The name Virididentex comes from two parts. Viridis means "green" in Latin. This part likely refers to Cape Verde, where the fish lives. The second part, Dentex, is the name of a different fish group. The bulldog dentex was first thought to be part of that group.
The specific name acromegalus also has two parts. Acro means "at the tip" and megalus means "large". The scientist who named it, Osório, didn't fully explain this. But it might refer to the fish's lower jaw, which sticks out. This gives it a "bulldog" look.
What Does it Look Like?
The bulldog dentex has a body that is a bit long and flat from side to side. Its head has a curved shape at the back, near its neck. But it dips in front of its eyes. Its eyes are quite small compared to its snout.
The scales on top of its head reach forward past its eyes. Its mouth is set at an angle, and its lower jaw sticks out. This gives it a distinctive appearance. The fish has sharp, canine-like teeth. These teeth are in several rows, with the ones on the outside being the largest.
The fin on its back, called the dorsal fin, has 11 stiff spines and 11 soft rays. The fourth or fifth spine is usually the longest. The fin on its belly, called the anal fin, has 3 spines and 8 or 9 soft rays. The very last ray on both these fins is long and thin. Its pelvic fins have a wide, flat spine.
The bulldog dentex is usually a brownish color. It can have hints of red, green, or blue. Its belly is lighter, and its fins are reddish. This fish can grow up to 52 centimeters (about 20 inches) long. However, it is more common to see them around 30 centimeters (about 12 inches) long.
Where Does it Live?
The bulldog dentex is found only in Cape Verde. This means it is endemic to this area and lives nowhere else in the world. It prefers to live in waters that are between 40 and 60 meters (about 130 to 200 feet) deep. You can usually find them swimming over rocky areas on the ocean floor.
