''Latridopsis'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

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 hor ...

belonging to the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Latridae Latridae commonly called trumpeters, is a family of marine ray-finned fish. They are found in temperate seas in the Southern Hemisphere. The classification of the species within the Latridae and the related Cheilodactylidae is unclear.They a ...

, the trumpeters. They are found in the southwestern

Pacific Ocean The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the continen ...

and the southeastern

Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, covering or ~19.8% of the water on Earth's surface. It is bounded by Asia to the north, Africa to the west and Australia to the east. To the south it is bounded by th ...

Taxonomy

''Latridopsis'' was described in 1862 by the American ichthyologist Theodore Nicholas Gill who designated J.R. Forster's '' Anthias ciliaris'' as its type species, the genus was also monotypic when Gill described it. The name of the genus ''Latridopsis'' means "resembling '' Latris''.

Species

There are currently two recognized species in this genus: * '' Latridopsis ciliaris'' ( J. R. Forster, 1801) (Blue moki) * '' Latridopsis forsteri'' ( Castelnau, 1872) (Bastard trumpeter)

Characteristics

''Latridopsi''s is distinguished from ''Latris'' and '' Mendosoma'' using the following combined characters. They have a somewhat oval and compressed body with a pointed snout and a terminal mouth, which does not have thick, fleshy lips with a slim

caudal peduncle Fins are distinctive anatomical features composed of bony spines or rays protruding from the body of a fish. They are covered with skin and joined together either in a webbed fashion, as seen in most bony fish, or similar to a flipper, as se ...

. The

dorsal fin A dorsal fin is a fin located on the back of most marine and freshwater vertebrates within various taxa of the animal kingdom. Many species of animals possessing dorsal fins are not particularly closely related to each other, though through conv ...

contains 16-18 relatively uniform sized spines and 37-43 soft rays while the long

anal fin Fins are distinctive anatomical features composed of bony spines or rays protruding from the body of a fish. They are covered with skin and joined together either in a webbed fashion, as seen in most bony fish, or similar to a flipper, as se ...

contains 3 spines and 31-37 soft rays, a deep incision separates the spiny and soft rayed part of the dorsal fin. The

pectoral fin Fins are distinctive anatomical features composed of bony spines or rays protruding from the body of a fish. They are covered with skin and joined together either in a webbed fashion, as seen in most bony fish, or similar to a flipper, as ...

s have 16-19 rays, the upper rays are longer than the lower rays with none being very elongated and the tips of the fins are rounded. Theor overall colour is grey. They are relatively large fish with maximum

total length Fish measurement is the measuring of individual fish and various parts of their anatomies. These data are used in many areas of ichthyology, including taxonomy and fisheries biology. Overall length * Standard length (SL) is the length of a fish ...

s being for ''L. forsteri'' and for ''L. ciliaris''.

Distribution and habitat

''Latridopsis'' trumpeters are found in the south eastern Indian Ocean and the southwestern Pacific Ocean in southern Australia, including Tasmania, and New Zealand. They are found up to in depth on rocky reefs.

Biology

''Latridopsis'' species prey on diverse taxa of benthic invertebrates. They are normally solitary, or in small aggregations but will form large schools for migration.

Fisheries

''Latridopsis'' species are targeted by commercial fisheries in some parts of their range.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2162125 Latridae Taxa named by Theodore Gill