Pelagic porcupinefish
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Tetraodontiformes
Family: Diodontidae
Genus: Diodon
Species:
D. eydouxii
Binomial name
Diodon eydouxii
Synonyms
  • Diodon melanopsis Kaup, 1855
  • Diodon bertolettii de Lema, de Lucena, Saenger & De Oliveira, 1979

Diodon eydouxii, commonly known as the pelagic porcupinefish, is a species of porcupinefish with a circumtropical marine distribution.[1][2]

Description

Diodon eydouxii can be distinguished from many related species by its coloration. While its underside is silver to white in color, its back and sides are typically noticeably blue, with numerous small dark spots. The species is smaller than many of its congeners, reaching around 27 cm (10.6 inches) in total length.[1] It is believed that the blue coloration, comparatively fusiform body, smaller size, and falcate fins of D. eydouxii are adaptations to its open-water environment, distinguishing it from non-pelagic (except as juveniles) species such as Diodon hystrix.[3]

Distribution and habitat

Diodon eydouxii is known from the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans, where it typically occurs in warm, tropical areas with a water temperature between 23.1 and 29.1 °C (73.6 and 84.4 °F). Unusually among members of the family Diodontidae, and unusually among members of Tetraodontiformes in general, it is a pelagic fish in all stages of its life cycle.[1] It is typically found at depths of 0 to 10 m (0 to 33 ft).[4]

Ecology

Diodon eydouxii is known to be a schooling species, distinguishing it from many tetraodontiform fish which are often solitary. It reportedly feeds on ichthyoplankton and other larger zooplankton.[1]

Relationship with humans

Diodon eydouxii is known to be of some importance to minor commercial fisheries.[1] It occasionally appears in the aquarium trade.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2022). "Diodon eydouxii". FishBase.
  2. ↑ "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Diodon eydouxii Brisout de Barneville, 1846". www.marinespecies.org. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
  3. ↑ Leis, J.M. (1978). Systematics and zoogeography of the porcupinefishes (Diodon, Diodontidae, Tetraodontiformes), with comments on egg and larval development. Fishery Bulletin, 76, 535-567.
  4. ↑ "Shorefishes - The Fishes - Species". biogeodb.stri.si.edu. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
  5. ↑ Rowlett, Joe (2017-03-10). "This Big Blue Diodon eydouxii Is Pure Pelagic Porcupinefish Perfection". Reefs.com. Retrieved 2022-09-01.


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