''Askoldia'' is a
monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unispe ...
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...
of marine
ray-finned fish
Actinopterygii (; ), members of which are known as ray-finned fishes, is a class of bony fish. They comprise over 50% of living vertebrate species.
The ray-finned fishes are so called because their fins are webs of skin supported by bony or h ...
es belonging to the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
Stichaeidae, the pricklebacks and shannies. Its only species is ''Askoldia variegata'' which is found in the northwestern Pacific Ocean.
Taxonomy
''Askoldia'' was first proposed as a
monospecific
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unispec ...
genus in 1910 by the Russian
ichthyologist Mikhail Nikolaevich Pavlenko when he described its only species ''A. variegatus'', with its
type locality given as near
Askold Island
Askold and Dir (''Haskuldr'' or ''Hǫskuldr'' and ''Dyr'' or ''Djur'' in Old Norse; died in 882), mentioned in both the Primary Chronicle and the Nikon Chronicle, were the earliest known ''purportedly Norse'' rulers of Kiev.
Primary Chronicle
Th ...
in
Peter the Great Bay in the
Sea of Japan
The Sea of Japan is the marginal sea between the Japanese archipelago, Sakhalin, the Korean Peninsula, and the mainland of the Russian Far East. The Japanese archipelago separates the sea from the Pacific Ocean. Like the Mediterranean Sea, i ...
, Russia.
The genus is placed in the subfamily
Opisthocentrinae within the family Stichaeidae by some authorities,
while other classify this taxon as a valid family, Opisthocentridae.
[ Some authorities also recognise two subspecies, the nominate ''A.v. variegata'' and ''A.v. knipowitschi'' but the validity of this subsepcies is not generally accepted.][ ''Askoldia'' is considered to be closely related to '' Kasatkia''.]
Etymology
''Askoldia'' is named after its type locality, Askold Island. The specific name ''variegata'' means "variegated" and is thought to refer to the colour pattern of a green background colour marked with many poorly defined red spots.
Description
''Askoldia'' has between 57 and 68 spines in the dorsal fin and 2 spines and 38-43 soft rays in the anal fin. The pectoral fins have 20-23 fin rays while the pelvic fins have a single spine and 3 soft rays. It has vomerine teeth
The vomer (; lat, vomer, lit=ploughshare) is one of the unpaired facial bones of the skull. It is located in the midsagittal line, and articulates with the sphenoid, the ethmoid, the left and right palatine bones, and the left and right maxill ...
and a scaled head. This species attains a maximum standard length pf .
Distribution and habitat
''Askoldia'' is found in the western North Pacific Ocean from the northern Sea of Okhotsk to the Pacific coast of Hokkaido
is Japan's second largest island and comprises the largest and northernmost prefecture, making up its own region. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaidō from Honshu; the two islands are connected by the undersea railway Seikan Tunnel.
The lar ...
and in the Sea of Japan to Peter the Great Bay at depths between . although it is typically found at depths of less than .[
]
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q2039705, from2=Q2160842
Opisthocentrinae
Monotypic ray-finned fish genera