High-hat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids High-hat |
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The high-hat fish, scientifically known as Pareques acuminatus, is a cool marine fish. It's also called the donkeyfish, cubbyu, or striped drum. This fish is a type of ray-finned fish and belongs to the family called Sciaenidae. This family includes fish known as drums and croakers. You can find the high-hat fish swimming in the western part of the Atlantic Ocean.
About the High-Hat Fish
The high-hat fish got its scientific name, Pareques acuminatus, a long time ago in 1801. Two German naturalists, Marcus Elieser Bloch and Johann Gottlob Schneider, were the first to officially describe it. The name acuminatus means "pointed" or "acute." This refers to the shape of its tall, spiny dorsal fin, which looks a bit like a pointed hat!
Scientists group living things into categories. This helps us understand how different species are related. The high-hat fish is part of the Pareques genus. It's also known to be a bit different from a similar fish called the southern high-hat.
What Does the High-Hat Fish Look Like?
The high-hat fish has a unique look. It has a deep, diamond-shaped body. Its back is arched, and its head is low. The snout sticks out a bit over its mouth.
- Teeth: It has small, brush-like teeth arranged in bands. The teeth on the outer row of its lower jaw are a bit bigger.
- Chin: Unlike some fish, it doesn't have whiskers (called barbels) on its chin. But it does have five small pores there and ten on its snout.
- Fins: The dorsal fin, which is on its back, is very long. It has a deep notch that separates the spiny front part from the soft-rayed back part. The spiny part is quite tall, with the sixth spine being the longest. The anal fin, on its underside, has two spines and several soft rays.
- Scales: Most of its body is covered in rough scales, but the scales on its head are smooth. The bases of its soft dorsal and anal fins also have thick scales.
- Colors: These fish are easy to spot because they have cool black and white stripes running along their bodies.
- Size: High-hat fish can grow up to about 23 cm (about 9 inches) long. However, they are usually around 18 cm (about 7 inches).
Where Do High-Hat Fish Live?
You can find the high-hat fish in the western Atlantic Ocean. They live in areas from North Carolina all the way south through the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico to Venezuela.
They prefer clear waters around tropical islands. You'll often see them near coral reefs or in nearby bays. They like places where the bottom is made of rubble or the edges of seagrass beds. They usually live at depths between 60 and 70 m (about 200 to 230 feet).
