Pineapplefish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pineapplefish |
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| Pineapple-fish off Fly Point, New South Wales | |
| Scientific classification | |
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| Phylum: | |
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| Order: |
Beryciformes
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| Genus: |
Cleidopus
De Vis, 1882 |
| Species: |
C. gloriamaris
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| Binomial name | |
| Cleidopus gloriamaris De Vis, 1882
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The pineapplefish, Cleidopus gloriamaris, is a species of fish. It is also known as the knightfish or the coat-of-mail fish, due to the scales on its body. Some people call it the port-and-starboard light fish, as it has a pair of bright spots that are like a ship's lights. "Gloriamaris" is from the Latin language gloria and maris, means "glory of the sea".
The pineapple fish (Cleidopus gloriamaris) is a species of fish in the family Monocentridae, and the sole member of its genus. It is also known as the knightfish or the coat-of-mail fish, due to the armor-like scales covering its body, and the port-and-starboard light fish, as it has a pair of bioluminescent organs that are reminiscent of navigation lights on ships. Its specific epithet is from the Latin gloria and maris, meaning "glory of the sea".
Contents
Distribution and habitat
The pineapplefish is native to coastal waters off Queensland, New South Wales, and Western Australia. It occurs at a depth of 6–200 meters (20–656 ft) in reefs and harbors.
Description
The pineapple-fish grows up to 22 cm (8.7 in) long. It has a plump, rounded body almost completely covered in large, rough scales with sharp, backward-pointing spines. The scales of the pineapple fish are yellow to whitish with black rear margins, forming the striking pattern that gives this fish its name.
The head is large, with mucous pits bordered by rough ridges, and is armored with heavy bone. The snout is blunt and overhangs the wide mouth.
Biology and ecology
Due to its small fins and rigid armor, the pineapple-fish is a weak swimmer. A nocturnal species, it may be found inside caves and under rocky ledges during the day. In the Fly Point Halifax Park Aquatic Preserve, New South Wales, a small group of pineapple-fish has been documented under the same ledge for at least 7 years, and another group under a different ledge for 3 years.
At night, this species ventures out onto sandy flats to feed, using its light organs to illuminate small shrimp. The light of the pineapple-fish is produced by symbiotic colonies of bacteria within its photophores. V. fischeri are also found free-living in sea water and are naturally released from the pineapple-fish's photophores. However, their luminescence dims within a matter of hours after being released. This species has lived up to 10 years in captivity.
Relationship to humans
The pineapplefish is moderately common in deep water, but due to its retiring nature, for some time after its initial discovery it was only known from specimens tossed ashore by storms. This fish is sometimes collected by commercial trawlers, and is popular with saltwater fish aquarists. It is fairly hardy, but must be provided with rocky hiding places and live food.
The species is not targeted by any fisheries, but is often taken as bycatch by commercial trawlers
Images for kids
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Pineapplefish off Fly Point, New South Wales
See also
In Spanish: Pez piña para niños
