Oplopomus

Not to be confused with Oplopomops.
Oplopomus
Spinecheek goby (O. oplopomus)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Gobiidae
Subfamily: Gobiinae
Genus: Oplopomus
Valenciennes, 1837
Type species
Gobius oplopomus
Valenciennes, 1837
Synonyms

Oplopomus is a genus of gobies found in coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific region. It contains two species.

Description

Oplopomus are characterized by elongated bodies and compressed heads. They possess 24 to 30 ctenoid scales on the body, becoming cycloid on the nape before disappearing just behind the eyes. Their snouts are short and rounded, shorter than the diameter of the eyes. The lower jaw protrudes past the upper jaw, with a pair of canine teeth on each side. The dorsal fins are separate with six rays on the first. The ventral fins are joined by a bridge of skin (a frenum). The caudal fins are rounded.[1] They can grow to a maximum length of 10 cm (3.9 in).[2]

They superficially resemble members of the genus Acentrogobius, but Oplopomus can be distinguished by having the first rays of both dorsal fins ending in a sharp point (pungent).[1]

Taxonomy

Wikispecies has information related to: Oplopomus

The genus Oplomopus was first used by the German zoologist Christian Gottfried Ehrenberg for Oplopomus pulcher (a synonym of Oplopomus oplopomus, first described by the French zoologist Achille Valenciennes in 1837). It was made available through subsequent usage by the Austrian zoologist Franz Steindachner in 1860.[1][3][4] It is classified under the subfamily Gobiinae of the goby family, Gobiidae.[2][5]

Species and distribution

Oplopomus can be found from the Red Sea to the Pacific Ocean.[2] They inhabit coral reefs, in depths of 1 to 30 m (3.3 to 98.4 ft) beneath the surface. There are currently two recognized species in this genus:[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 E.J. Brill (1953). The Fishes of the Indo-Australian Archipelago. Brill Archive. pp. 29–30.
  2. 1 2 3 "Genus: Oplopomus". FishBase. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  3. ↑ Catalog of Fishes (2007). "Oplopomus Valenciennes". California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  4. ↑ David Jordan (1963). The Genera of Fishes and a Classification of Fishes. Stanford University Press. p. 299. ISBN 978-0-8047-0201-0.
  5. ↑ WoRMS (2010). "Oplopomus Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1837". World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  6. ↑ Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2013). Species of Oplomopus in FishBase. June 2013 version.
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