Malacanthus brevirostris

Malacanthus brevirostris (also known as the quakerfish), is a species of tilefish from the family Malacanthidae.

Malacanthus brevirostris
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Actinopterygii
Order:
Perciformes
Family:
Malacanthidae
Genus:
Malacanthus
Species:
M. brevirtostris
Binomial name
Malacanthus brevirostris
>Guichenot, 1848
Synonyms[1]
  • Dikellorhynchus incredibilis Smith, 1956
  • Malacanthus hoedti Bleeker, 1859
  • Malacanthus hoedtii Bleeker, 1859
  • Malacanthus parvipinnis Vaillant & Sauvage, 1875

Distribution

This species is present in Indo-Pacific and Eastern Central Pacific (Red Sea to Panama, north to southern Japan and the Hawaiian Islands, south to the Lord Howe and Austral islands).[2]

Habitat

These fishes are reef-associated, with a depth range from 5 to 50 m. They mainly inhabit barren and open areas of outer reef slopes.[2]

Description

Malacanthus brevirostris can reach a maximum length of about 32 cm (13 in), with a common length of about 26.5 cm (10.4 in). The body color is greyish with darker bars on the sides and a yellowish tinge on head. The caudal fin shows two black stripes.They have 1-4 dorsal spines, 52-56 dorsal soft rays, one anal spines and 46 – 55 anal soft rays.[2][3]

Biology

These fishes usually occurs in pairs and live on sand in a hole of their own construction. When threatened, they take refuge into their burrow. They have a pelagic stage to at least 5 cm.[2] They feed on small fishes and invertebrates.

Bibliography
  • Dooley, J.K. (1978) Systematics and biology of the tilefishes (Perciformes: Branchiostegidae and Malacanthidae) with descriptions of two new species., NOAA Tech. Rep. NMFS Circ. No. 411:1-78.
  • Fricke, R. (1999) Fishes of the Mascarene Islands (Réunion, Mauritius, Rodriguez): an annotated checklist, with descriptions of new species., Koeltz Scientific Books, Koenigstein, Theses Zoologicae, Vol. 31:759 p.
  • The Reef Guide: Fishes, corals, nudibranchs & other invertebrates: East & South Coasts of Southern Africa. Dennis King & Valda Fraser. Struik Nature. 2014 ISBN 978-1-77584-018-3

References
  1. Catalogue of life
  2. Fishbase Fishbase
  3. WoRMS
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