Redfingers
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Cheilodactylidae
Genus: Cheilodactylus
Species:
C. fasciatus
Binomial name
Cheilodactylus fasciatus
Synonyms[2]

The redfingers (Cheilodactylus fasciatus) is a species of marine ray-finned fish, belonging to the family Cheilodactylidae, commonly referred to as morwongs. It is found only off the coasts of Namibia and South Africa, in rock pools and from shallow depths to 120 m, on rocky reef areas. Its length is up to 30 cm.

Taxonomy

The redfingers was first formally described in 1803 by the French naturalist Bernard Germain de Lacépède with the type locality given as the Cape of Good Hope.[3] When Lacépède wrote his description this was the only species in the genus Cheilodactylus and so is its type species and that of the family Cheilodactylidae.[4] Phylogenetic analyses and genetic studies of the morwongs have not supported the traditional arrangement of the families Cheilodactylidae and Latridae. This has led to some authorities suggesting that the majority of species in Cheilodactylidae should be placed in Latridae.[5][6] A result of this rearrangement is that the only species which would remain in Cheilodactylidae are this species and C. pixi, both from southern Africa.[5] This is because these analyses resolved the genus Cheilodactylus as polyphyletic.[5][7] These studies appear to show that most of the species in Cheilodactylus sensu lato instead apparently to belong in several different genera and are not even members of the same family, but how many and their exact delimitation is not clear at present.[5][8][9] The outlier species have been assigned to Chirodactylus, Goniistius, Morwong and Pseudogoniistius, but DNA and morphologic analyses found those species to be nested within Latridae and more derived than the kelpfish, marblefish and this species.[9][7][5] The specific name fasciatus means "banded", a reference to the bars on the back and flanks of this species.[10]

Description

The redfingers has body which is oval in shape,[11] with a depth that fits into its standard length 3.2 to 3.7 times.[12] It has a small mouth,[11]. pointed snout and a slightly concave breast.[13] The dorsal fin has 17-19 spines and 23-25 soft rays while the anal fin contains3 spines and 9-11 soft rays. This species attains a maximum total length of 30 cm (12 in). The pectoral fins have 14 rays with the lower 4-5 rays enlarged[12] and red in colour.[11] There are four wide reddish-brown stripes on lower flanks and five quadrangular marks on the upper flanks which line up with the stripes on the rear of body. The head covered with rectangular spots and dashes and the caudal fin has diagonal brown stripes.[13]

Distribution and habitat

The redfingers is endemic to the waters of southern Africa occurring in both the southeastern Atlantic Ocean and the southwestern Indian Ocean. Its range extends from Swakopmund in Namibia to northern KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. They are typically found at depths down to 25 m (82 ft), although they are occasionally recorded as deep as 120 m (390 ft).[1] It is found in rocky areas, especially reefs, while the juveniles are commonly found in tidal pools.[11]

Biology

The redfingers is a cryptic species which is well camouflaged in its rocky habitat. The adults are found either as solitary individuals or in small groups. These fish are more numerous in deeper waters where there is plentiful cover and caves, which are used as sanctuaries to when the water temperature falls and from predators. Its diet is dominated by benthic invertebrates including small crabs, molluscs and worms.[1]

Fisheries

The redfingers is caught accidentally in small numbers but it is of little interest to either recreational or commercial fisheries. They are used in coldwater aquaria but mainly in public aquaria.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Fennessy, S.; Holleman, W.; Russell, B. (2020). "Cheilodactylus fasciatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T21113874A21914195. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T21113874A21914195.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. ↑ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2021). "Cheilodactylus fasciatus" in FishBase. June 2021 version.
  3. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Cheilodactylus". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  4. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Cheilodactylidae". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Christopher P. Burridge and Adam J. Smolenski (2004). "Molecular phylogeny of the Cheilodactylidae and Latridae (Perciformes: Cirrhitoidea) with notes on taxonomy and biogeography". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 30: 118–127. doi:10.1016/S1055-7903(03)00157-X.
  6. ↑ John E. Randall (2007). Reef and Shore Fishes of the Hawaiian Islands. ISBN 1-929054-03-3.
  7. 1 2 C. P. Burridge and R.W.G. White (2000). "Molecular phylogeny of the antitropical subgenus Goniistius (Perciformes: Cheilodactylidae: Cheilodactylus): evidence for multiple transequatorial divergences and non-monophyly". Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 70: 435–458. doi:10.1006/bijl.1999.0413.
  8. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Cheilodactylus". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  9. 1 2 Ludt, W.B.; Burridge, C.P. & Chakrabarty, P. (2019). "A taxonomic revision of Cheilodactylidae and Latridae (Centrarchiformes: Cirrhitoidei) using morphological and genomic characters". Zootaxa. 585 (1). doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4585.1.7.
  10. ↑ Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara, eds. (25 February 2021). "Order Centrarchiformes: Families Centrarchidae, Elassomatidae, Eoplosidae, Sinipercidae, Aplodactylidae, Cheilodactylidae, Chironemidae, Cirrhitidae, Latridae, Percichthydiae, Dichistitidae, Girellidae, Kuhliidae, Kyphosidae, Oplegnathidae, Terapontidae, Microcanthidae, and Scorpididae". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Roy Lubke; Irene J. De Moor, eds. (1998). Field Guide to the Eastern & Southern Cape Coasts. Juta and Company Ltd. ISBN 1919713034.
  12. 1 2 Heemstra, Phillip C.; Heemstra, Elaine (2004). Coastal Fishes of Southern Africa. NISC (PTY) LTD. ISBN 1920033017.
  13. 1 2 "Cheilodactylus fasciatus". Reef Life Survey. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  • G M Branch, C L Griffiths, M L Branch, & L E Beckley, Two Oceans, A Guide to the Marine Life of Southern Africa, (David Philip Publishers (Pty) Ltd, Claremont, South Africa 1994) ISBN 0-86486-250-4
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