''Plesiops'' 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 ...

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 ...

es in 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 ...

Plesiopidae The longfins, also known as roundheads or spiny basslets, are a family, Plesiopidae, which were formerly placed in the order Perciformes but are now regarded as being ''incertae sedis'' in the subseries Ovalentaria in the clade Percomorpha. They a ...

. It is a genus of small fishes which vary in length from and and which live in shallow coral flats or around heads of coral. They have elongated

pelvic fin Pelvic fins or ventral fins are paired fins located on the ventral surface of fish. The paired pelvic fins are homologous to the hindlimbs of tetrapods. Structure and function Structure In actinopterygians, the pelvic fin consists of two en ...

s and the other fins are marked with colourful patterns such as stripes and these give name to the common names "

longfin The longfins, also known as roundheads or spiny basslets, are a family, Plesiopidae, which were formerly placed in the order Perciformes but are now regarded as being ''incertae sedis'' in the subseries Ovalentaria in the clade Percomorpha. They ...

" and "prettyfin". They are thought to be

nocturnal Nocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal", versus diurnal meaning the opposite. Nocturnal creatures generally have highly developed sens ...

and are infrequently seen in the wild. They are carnivorous and their diet is made up of

crustacean Crustaceans (Crustacea, ) form a large, diverse arthropod taxon which includes such animals as decapods, seed shrimp, branchiopods, fish lice, krill, remipedes, isopods, barnacles, copepods, amphipods and mantis shrimp. The crustacean group ...

gastropod The gastropods (), commonly known as snails and slugs, belong to a large taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca called Gastropoda (). This class comprises snails and slugs from saltwater, from freshwater, and from land. T ...

s and small fishes and sometimes on brittle stars. A defining characteristic of this genus is that they lay elongated eggs which are laid under rocks or overhangs and are guarded by the male.

Species

The following species are currently recognised within the genus ''Plesiops'': * '' Plesiops auritus'' * '' Plesiops cephalotaenia'' * '' Plesiops coeruleolineatus'' * ''

Plesiops corallicola ''Plesiops'' is a genus of ray-finned fishes in the family Plesiopidae. It is a genus of small fishes which vary in length from and and which live in shallow coral flats or around heads of coral. They have elongated pelvic fins and the other fi ...

'' * ''

Plesiops facicavus ''Plesiops'' is a genus of ray-finned fishes in the family Plesiopidae. It is a genus of small fishes which vary in length from and and which live in shallow coral flats or around heads of coral. They have elongated pelvic fins and the other ...

'' * ''

Plesiops genaricus ''Plesiops'' is a genus of ray-finned fishes in the family Plesiopidae. It is a genus of small fishes which vary in length from and and which live in shallow coral flats or around heads of coral. They have elongated pelvic fins and the other ...

'' * ''

Plesiops gracilis ''Plesiops'' is a genus of ray-finned fishes in the family Plesiopidae. It is a genus of small fishes which vary in length from and and which live in shallow coral flats or around heads of coral. They have elongated pelvic fins and the other ...

'' * ''

Plesiops insularis ''Plesiops'' is a genus of ray-finned fishes in the family Plesiopidae. It is a genus of small fishes which vary in length from and and which live in shallow coral flats or around heads of coral. They have elongated pelvic fins and the other ...

'' * ''

Plesiops malalaxus ''Plesiops'' is a genus of ray-finned fishes in the family Plesiopidae. It is a genus of small fishes which vary in length from and and which live in shallow coral flats or around heads of coral. They have elongated pelvic fins and the other fi ...

'' * ''

Plesiops multisquamata ''Plesiops'' is a genus of ray-finned fishes in the family Plesiopidae. It is a genus of small fishes which vary in length from and and which live in shallow coral flats or around heads of coral. They have elongated pelvic fins and the other fi ...

'' * ''

Plesiops mystaxus ''Plesiops'' is a genus of ray-finned fishes in the family Plesiopidae. It is a genus of small fishes which vary in length from and and which live in shallow coral flats or around heads of coral. They have elongated pelvic fins and the other fi ...

'' * ''

Plesiops nakaharae ''Plesiops'' is a genus of ray-finned fishes in the family Plesiopidae. It is a genus of small fishes which vary in length from and and which live in shallow coral flats or around heads of coral. They have elongated pelvic fins and the other fi ...

'' * ''

Plesiops nigricans ''Plesiops'' is a genus of ray-finned fishes in the family Plesiopidae. It is a genus of small fishes which vary in length from and and which live in shallow coral flats or around heads of coral. They have elongated pelvic fins and the other fi ...

'' * '' Plesiops oxycephalus'' * '' Plesiops polydactylus'' * '' Plesiops thysanopterus'' * '' Plesiops verecundus''

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2661839 Plesiopinae Taxa named by Lorenz Oken