THE STEINHART AQUARIUM - Gulf of Guinea Science ...

176 A Docent Field Guide to the Species of the Steinhart Aquarium
substrate where they will be guarded by the
male for 2.5 months. Pairs have been observed
coiled around egg masses.
Mortality/Longevity: Preyed on by other fishes
and seabirds.
Remarks: Color phases seem to vary with
surroundings, controlled by two distinct body
pigments with individuals often reflecting the
green, brown, or red of the algae where they
are collected.
Breathe air when out of water at low tides while
hiding in crevices or algae.
Apodichthys [Gr.] means “fish without feet,” a
reference to this genus’ lack of pectoral fins.
Rockweed Gunnel
Apodichthys fucorum (Pholidae)
Gunnels
Distribution: Eastern Pacific; British Columbia
to central Baja California.
Habitat: Intertidal areas, commonly found in
rockweed (Fucus) and other algae growing in
tide pools and subtidal areas.
Appearance: Body eel-shaped, lacking pelvic
fins and possessing much reduced pectorals.
Colors range from dark red, light green in the
intertidal to light brown or tan in kelp areas.
Red morphs tend to associate with red algae,
green ones with green algae. Long dorsal fin
usually joined to the caudal fin. Max. length:
22.5 cm.
Diet: Small crustaceans and mollusks.
Remarks: A. fucorum is able to remain out of
water for extended periods of time, protected
under rocks or seaweed and able to breathe air
for up to 24 hours if kept moist.
Ecologically, gunnels are important forage
fishes for birds and commercially important
flatfishes.
Wolf Eel
Anarrhichthys ocellatus (Anarhichadidae)
Wolffishes
Distribution: Sea of Japan and Aleutian Islands
to Imperial Beach, California.
Habitat: Adults live on bottom, usually among
rocks in subtidal locations; often in dens.
Depths from barely subtidal to 226 m.
Appearance: Length to 2.4 m. Weight to 18 kg.
An eel-like fish (large, elongate, compressed
body) with no pelvic fins. Large pectoral fins.
Colored mostly gray to brown, occasionally
greenish. Round dark spots with pale rings on
body and fins. Juveniles often orangish with
dark spots merging into stripes at rear of body.
Diet: Crabs, sand dollars, marine snails and
fishes.
Reproduction and Development: Eggs laid
in rocky protected areas and guarded by both
parents. Juveniles initially pelagic, living near
the top of the water column for 2 years. They
then settle to an active life over the benthos,
eventually locate a rock shelter hideaway and
become less active. A male-female pair will
occupy the same shelter for years, apparently
mating for life. Females reproductive at 7 years.
Male butts his head against female’s abdomen
during courtship. He externally fertilizes the
10,000 eggs per clutch. Both parents wrap
themselves around the egg mass; only one at
a time leaves to feed.
Mortality/Longevity: Predators of eggs
include benthic rockfish and kelp greenlings.
Remarks: Not a true eel of the Order Anguilliformes.
Can inflict a painful bite.
An edible food fish.
SUBORDER PHOLIDICHTHYOIDEI
(CONVICT BLENNIES)
Engineerfish aka Convict Blenny
Pholidichthys leucotaenia (Pholidichthyidae)
Convictfish
Distribution: Philippines and Eastern Borneo
to New Guinea and Solomon Islands, south to
Flores, Indonesia.
Habitat: Shallow lagoons and coastal reefs. Juveniles
form schools that are often found under
ledges or around coral heads. . .
Appearance: Length to 34 cm. Eel-like, confluent
dorsal and anal fins, scaleless, yellowish
body heavily colored with very dark blotches
or vertical bars; thus the common name “convictfish.”
Juveniles resemble the venomous
striped catfish Plotosus lineatus but lack that
species’ venomous spines and barbels.
Remarks: Often swim with conspecifics in tight
formation resembling a single large body. Able
to move backwards and forwards, pulling itself
through the water with extra-sinuous body
movements.