Opeatogenys gracilis

Opeatogenys gracilis is a species of clingfish from the family Gobiesocidae which is found in the Mediterraean Sea and in the eastern Atlantic Ocean.[2] Suggested common name for this species are the pygmy clingfish and the seagrass clingfish.[3]

Opeatogenys gracilis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Gobiesociformes
Family: Gobiesocidae
Genus: Opeatogenys
Species:
O. gracilis
Binomial name
Opeatogenys gracilis
(Canestrini, 1864)
Synonyms[2]

Mirbelia gracilis Canestrini, 1864

Description

Opeatogenys gracilis has a short snout which is depressed and triangular in shape. Its general shape is rather similar to that of the two-spotted clingfish (Diplecogaster bimaculata). The dorsal and anal fins are relatively small and situated close to the caudal fin. The pectoral fins are modified to form the suction disc, a characteristic of clingfishes. The colour can be greenish or orange with light blue spots and there is a white line along the back.[4] The maximum total length is 3 centimetres (1.2 in).[2]

Distribution

Opeatogenys gracilis occurs only in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean from the coasts of the Algarve eastwards to the Levant. Until specimens were collected off southern Portugal, it had been considered to be endemic to the Mediterranean. Within the Mediterranean, O. gracilis has been recorded off the coast of Malaga, Spain, Algeria, Cyprus, France, Sicily and off Sfax in Tunisia.[1]

Habitat and biology

Opeatogenys gracilis is found on the leaves of seagrasses such as Posidonia oceanica and Cymodocea nodosa and on the fronds of algae, attaching to the leaves or fronds with the sucking disc formed by the modified pectoral fins. It is thought that this small fish only lives for a few years. Adults feed on small invertebrates which also live on the leaves of seagrass. The pelagic larval stage of this species lasts for an mean of 14.6 days.[1] Off Sicily, the preferred prey was found to be copepods of the order Harpacticoida.[5]

Taxonomy and etymology

Opeatogenys gracilis is a clingfish and is placed in the family Gobiesocidae. It was originally described as Mirbelia gracilis by Giovanni Canestrini from a type locality given as the Mediterranean Sea. In 1955, John Carmon Briggs placed it in the monotypic genus Opeatogenys.[6] In 1957, Briggs described a second species of Opeatogenys, O. cadenati, from the coasts of western Africa.[3] The generic name is derived from the Greek opeatos which means an "awl" and genys which means "cheek", while the specific name gracilis means "slender".[7]

References
  1. Herler, J.; Williams, J.T. & Kovacic, M. (2014). "Opeatogenys gracilis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T194843A49086951. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T194843A49086951.en.
  2. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2019). "Opeatogenys gracilis" in FishBase. April 2019 version.
  3. E.J. Gonçalves; R. Beldade & M. Henriques (2005). "Opeatogenys gracilis (Pisces: Gobiesocidae): an overlooked species or another 'Mediterranean endemism' found in Atlantic waters?". Journal of Fish Biology. 67: 481–489.
  4. "Opeatogenys gracilis Porte-écuelle grêle". Côte bleue (in French). Christian Coudre. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  5. S. Vizzini; A. Mazzola; D. Scilipoti. "Notes on the Biology and Ecology of Opeatogenys gracilis (Canestrini 1864) (Pisces: Gobiesocidae) from Coastal Environments in Sicily (Mediterranean)". In Faranda F.M.; Guglielmo L.; Spezie G. (eds.). Mediterranean Ecosystems. Springer, Milano. ISBN 978-88-470-2162-4.
  6. Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Mirbelia gracilis". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  7. Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara (7 February 2019). "Order GOBIESOCIFORMES (Clingfishes)". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
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