THE STEINHART AQUARIUM - Gulf of Guinea Science ...

142 A Docent Field Guide to the Species of the Steinhart Aquarium
Males guard and maintain nest.
Remarks: Often rests or retreats when alarmed
to a stereotypic “upside down” posture near
cave roofs.
Southern Blue Devil
Paraplesiops meleagris (Plesiopidae)
Roundheads
Distribution: Temperate Indian Ocean along
the southern Australian coastline, from eastern
Victoria to southwestern Australia.
Habitat: Rocky reefs and caves, in relatively
shallow water from 15–25 m. They prefer
deep cave systems, under projections and on
ledges where a number of fish, ranging from
small juveniles to mature adults, may inhabit
the space.
Appearance: Large mouths and very large
eyes, vivid light blue spots cover its dark blue/
brown body, and elongated pelvic, anal and
dorsal fins. Unlike many fish whose colors
mute with age, these spots become a more
vivid blue. Max length: 33–35 cm.
Diet: Other fishes and crustaceans. The blue
devil is an ambush predator that is secretive
and spends much of its time hiding. With its
slow-moving manner, however, it can be both
predator and prey.
Reproduction and Development: Members
of the Paraplesiops genus lay eggs on the
substrate where they are guarded until
hatching by the male.
Remarks: The species tends to be shy. In
an aquarium setting, it needs a space with
numerous nooks and crannies to hide in. Look
carefully in the rockwork to find our blue devil.
Human uses include commercial fisheries and
commercial aquariums. Aborigines have long
considered this fish a delicacy.
Redbreast Sunfish
Lepomis auritus (Centrarchidae)
Sunfishes
Distribution: North America: Eastern rivers of
USA and Canada. Introduced to eastern and
southern parts of Texas.
Habitat: Rocky and sandy pools of creeks and
small to medium rivers.
Appearance: Olive to brownish gray along
the back; belly ranges in color from yellow
to orange and rust. Common length: 20 cm;
max: 30 cm.
Diet: Terrestrial and aquatic insects, such as
dragonflies and mayflies, as well as snails,
crayfish, and small fish. Juveniles eat small
benthic organisms, such as fly larvae.
Reproduction and Development: Typical of
sunfishes, the redbreast male selects an area of
sand and gravel in shallow water, and scrapes
out a depression where the female lays her
eggs. The male guards eggs and fry.
Mortality/Longevity: Life span: 5 years.
Remarks: A popular gamefish throughout its
range.
This species should be called the “longear
sunfish” as its ear (the opercle flap) is noticeably
longer than the ear of the species so named.
In some areas where it has been introduced,
the redbreast is displacing its longear cousin.
Longear Sunfish
Lepomis megalotis (Centrarchidae)
Sunfishes
Distribution: North America. Widely introduced
as a game fish.
Habitat: Pools of sluggish streams over sand,
gravel or rocks. Also warm freshwater lakes
and reservoirs, almost always in shallow water
with dense vegetation.
Appearance: Shape is perchlike. In direct
sunlight sunfish have a brilliant sheen. A black
extension of the upper gill cover is the “ear.”
Spinous dorsal fins. Length to 24 cm.
Diet: Carnivorous, tend to be generalists: aquatic
insects, snails, crustaceans and small fishes.
Reproduction and Development: Spawn
during the summer. Nest side by side arranged
in dense colonies near shore. Male
digs nest in gravel and defends territory during
prespawning period. Female approaches
nesting colony when nest completed. Mating
pairs swim in circles over nest, stop for short
intervals to release sperm and egg. Male
may chase mate away from the nest, female
may come back to the same nest or move on
to mate with another male. After hatching,
young are pelagic and drift at the surface for
weeks before settling and moving inshore.
Juveniles school in large numbers in shallow
weedy areas and protected locations.
Mortality/Longevity: Preyed upon by the
bowfin (Amia calva) and other fishes.