Biology:Neovespicula depressifrons
Neovespicula depressifrons | |
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Scientific classification | |
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Genus: | Neovespicula Mandritsa, 2001
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Species: | N. depressifrons
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Binomial name | |
Neovespicula depressifrons (J. Richardson, 1848)
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Neovespicula depressifrons (leaf goblinfish) is a species of waspfish found in coastal habitats of the Indo-West Pacific region.[1]
Taxonomy
N. depressifrons is the sole member of the genus Neovespicula.[2] Synonyms include Apistes depressifrons and Vespicula depressifrons.[3]
Despite being traded as an aquarium fish under a variety of (somewhat misleading) common names, including dusky panther goby and butterfly goby,[4] this fish is not a goby;[1] it is in fact a member of the waspfish family Tetrarogidae within the suborder Scorpaenoidei.[1]
Morphology
N. depressifrons is a small species, reaching a maximum size of 10 cm.[1] It is similar to the bullrout in shape and colouration - mottled brown with a distinctive light stripe running along the dorsal surface from the nose and along the back of the fish.[4] It has two dorsal fins, the first being notably taller than the second.[4]
Distribution
The leaf goblinfish has been reported from Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines .[1]
Ecology
Like other waspfish, N. depressifrons is a stealthy predator that feeds on various small fish and invertebrates.[5] Also in common with other waspfish, it is equipped with venomous spines.[5] N. depressifrons is a euryhaline species, so may be found in saltwater, brackish water, and freshwater environments.[1]
Commercial importance
It is of no commercial importance, but occasionally gets traded as an aquarium fish.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2007). "Neovespicula depressifrons" in FishBase. December 2007 version.
- ↑ "Catalog of Fishes". California Academy of Sciences. http://research.calacademy.org/research/ichthyology/catalog/fishcatget.asp?genid=10677. Retrieved 2008-07-05.
- ↑ "Synonyms of Neovespicula depressifrons (Richardson, 1848)". Fishbase. http://www.fishbase.se/Nomenclature/SynonymsList.php?ID=11767&SynCode=151601&GenusName=Neovespicula&SpeciesName=depressifrons. Retrieved 2008-07-05.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Butterfly-goby Waspfish". Neale Monks. Archived from the original on 2008-06-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20080615005505/http://homepage.mac.com/nmonks/Projects/FAQ/4k.html. Retrieved 2008-07-05.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2007). "Tetrarogidae" in FishBase. Aug 2007 version.
Wikidata ☰ Q2618731 entry