White stumpnose facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White stumpnose |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Sparidae |
| Genus: | Rhabdosargus |
| Species: |
R. globiceps
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| Binomial name | |
| Rhabdosargus globiceps (Valenciennes, 1830)
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| Synonyms | |
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The white stumpnose (scientific name: Rhabdosargus globiceps) is a cool fish that lives in the ocean. People sometimes call it the go-home fish. It's a type of ray-finned fish from the Sparidae family. This family includes many fish like seabreams and porgies. This special fish is found only in the waters near Southern Africa.
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What's in a Name? The White Stumpnose Story
The white stumpnose got its scientific name, Rhabdosargus globiceps, a long time ago in 1830. A French scientist named Achille Valenciennes first described it. He called it Chrysophrys globiceps back then.
The name Rhabdosargus comes from two parts. Rhabdos means "stick" or "rod." This might refer to a yellow stripe on a similar fish. The second part, Sargos, is an old Greek name for this type of fish.
The specific name, globiceps, also has two parts. Globus means "sphere" or "globe." Ceps means "head." So, globiceps means "globe head" or "round head." This name describes the little bump on its head, right between its eyes.
How to Spot a White Stumpnose
The white stumpnose has a body that is a bit flat from side to side. It's not too deep, making it look sleek. The top of its head slopes steeply, with a small bump right in front of its eyes. Then, it smoothly curves down to where its top fin begins.
- Fins: It has two main fins on its back. The top fin (dorsal fin) has 11 sharp spines and 11 to 13 soft rays. The fin underneath (anal fin) has 3 spines and 10 or 11 soft rays.
- Color: Its body is mostly shiny silver. It also has 5 or 6 dark stripes that go up and down its back. Its fins are a bit dark too.
- Size: This fish can grow up to 60 centimeters (about 2 feet) long! But most of the time, they are around 40 centimeters (about 1.3 feet).
Where White Stumpnose Fish Live
The white stumpnose is found only in Southern Africa. You can find them in the southeastern Atlantic Ocean, from Angola all the way down to the Western Cape in South Africa. They also live in the southwestern Indian Ocean, reaching up to KwaZulu-Natal.
These fish love sandy areas on the ocean floor. Young white stumpnose fish often hang out in estuaries, which are places where rivers meet the sea. Adult fish can be found in deeper waters, sometimes as deep as 120 meters (about 390 feet)!
White Stumpnose Life and Habits
White stumpnose fish like to live on shallow reefs during the summer. They can be found in waters up to 50 meters (about 164 feet) deep. In winter, especially near the Agulhas Bank, they move to deeper reefs and sandy areas, sometimes as deep as 120 meters.
- Young Fish: Baby white stumpnose fish are common in bays and estuaries. They might live in areas where waves break, in beds of seagrass, or in coastal lagoons.
- Travelers: Some white stumpnose fish in the Langebaan Lagoon are quite active. They travel between the lagoon and Saldanha Bay during different seasons. They usually stay in the lagoon for most of the year.
- What They Eat: These fish are predators. They mostly eat small sea creatures like crustaceans (like crabs and shrimp) and molluscs (like snails and clams). Bigger adult fish can even crush clams and mussels with their strong jaws! Younger fish eat tiny creatures like amphipods and isopods.
- Lifespan: The white stumpnose can live for a long time, up to 21 years!
Reproduction and Life Cycle
White stumpnose fish are mostly separate sexes, meaning they are either male or female. Very few of them have both male and female parts.
They lay their eggs (spawn) between September and March. Young fish become ready to have babies when they are about 1.5 to 3 years old. Males are usually ready when they are about 15.3 to 23.6 centimeters long. Females are ready when they are around 22.2 centimeters long.
Fishing and Protecting the White Stumpnose
The white stumpnose is an important fish for people who fish. Many are caught by net fishers and people who fish with rods and reels. They are often caught close to shore at night. It's also a popular fish for people who enjoy sport fishing.
Sometimes, these fish are caught by accident by large fishing boats (trawlers) or by people using big nets from the beach. In some places, too many have been caught, and their numbers have dropped a lot.
Because the number of white stumpnose fish has gone down by more than 30% over three generations, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed them as a Vulnerable species. This means they need protection.
To help protect them, South Africa has put rules in place. These rules include:
- Minimum sizes for fish that can be caught.
- Limits on how many fish a person can catch (bag limits).
- Special Marine protected areas (MPAs) where fishing is restricted. The West Coast National Park, which includes Langebaan Lagoon, is one such protected area.
 | Valerie Thomas |
 | Frederick McKinley Jones |
 | George Edward Alcorn Jr. |
 | Thomas Mensah |
