A midshipman fish is any species of

toadfish Toadfish is the common name for a variety of species from several different families of fish, usually because of their toad-like appearance. "Dogfish" is a name for certain species along the gulf coast. Dolphin-Toadfish relationship Toadfish mak ...

belonging to the

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 ...

''Porichthys'' (in family

Batrachoididae Batrachoididae is the only family in the ray-finned fish order Batrachoidiformes . Members of this family are usually called toadfish, or "frogfish": both the English common name and scientific name refer to their toad-like appearance (''batrak ...

). Midshipman fish are distinguished by their

photophore A photophore is a glandular organ that appears as luminous spots on various marine animals, including fish and cephalopods. The organ can be simple, or as complex as the human eye; equipped with lenses, shutters, color filters and reflectors, ...

s (organs which attract prey and after which they are named, being said to resemble the buttons of a naval uniform) and four

lateral line The lateral line, also called the lateral line organ (LLO), is a system of sensory organs found in fish, used to detect movement, vibration, and pressure gradients in the surrounding water. The sensory ability is achieved via modified epithelial ...

s. Typical midshipman fishes, such as the plainfin midshipman (''

Porichthys notatus ''Porichthys notatus'' is a species of batrachoid toadfish. It is a member of the midshipman genus, ''Porichthys'', and is known by the common name plainfin midshipman. It is native to the eastern Pacific Ocean, where its distribution extends a ...

''), are

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 bury themselves in sand or mud in the intertidal zone during the day. At night they float just above the seabed. Some species have venomous dorsal spines and are capable of inflicting serious injuries if handled.

Description

Male midshipman fish have two morphs: type I and type II. Type I and type II males have different reproductive strategies, and can be distinguished from each other based on physical characteristics. Type I males are eight times larger in body mass, and have much larger vocal organs. Type II males’ reproductive organs are seven times larger in size than those of type I males. Female and type II male midshipman fish can be distinguished from each other by the female’s slightly larger size, and the type II male midshipman’s large reproductive organs.

Species

Atlantic midshipman ( Porichthys plectrodon )

Extant species

There are currently 14 recognized extant species in this genus: * '' Porichthys analis'' C. L. Hubbs & L. P. Schultz, 1939 (Darkedge midshipman) * ''

Porichthys bathoiketes A midshipman fish is any species of toadfish belonging to the genus ''Porichthys'' (in family Batrachoididae). Midshipman fish are distinguished by their photophores (organs which attract prey and after which they are named, being said to resembl ...

'' C. R. Gilbert, 1968 * '' Porichthys ephippiatus'' H. J. Walker &

Rosenblatt Rosenblatt is a surname of German and Jewish origin, meaning "rose leaf". People with this surname include: * Albert Rosenblatt (born 1936), New York Court of Appeals judge * Dana Rosenblatt, known as "Dangerous" (born 1972), American boxer * Elie ...

, 1988 (Saddle midshipman) * ''

Porichthys greenei A midshipman fish is any species of toadfish belonging to the genus ''Porichthys'' (in family Batrachoididae). Midshipman fish are distinguished by their photophores (organs which attract prey and after which they are named, being said to resembl ...

'' C. H. Gilbert & Starks, 1904 (Greene's midshipman) * ''

Porichthys kymosemeum A midshipman fish is any species of toadfish belonging to the genus ''Porichthys'' (in family Batrachoididae). Midshipman fish are distinguished by their photophores (organs which attract prey and after which they are named, being said to resembl ...

'' C. R. Gilbert, 1968 * ''

Porichthys margaritatus A midshipman fish is any species of toadfish belonging to the genus ''Porichthys'' (in family Batrachoididae). Midshipman fish are distinguished by their photophores (organs which attract prey and after which they are named, being said to resembl ...

'' ( J. Richardson, 1844) (Daisy midshipman) * ''

Porichthys mimeticus A midshipman fish is any species of toadfish belonging to the genus ''Porichthys'' (in family Batrachoididae). Midshipman fish are distinguished by their photophores (organs which attract prey and after which they are named, being said to resemb ...

'' H. J. Walker &

, 1988 (Mimetic midshipman) * ''

Porichthys myriaster A midshipman fish is any species of toadfish belonging to the genus ''Porichthys'' (in family Batrachoididae). Midshipman fish are distinguished by their photophores (organs which attract prey and after which they are named, being said to resembl ...

'' C. L. Hubbs & L. P. Schultz, 1939 (Specklefin midshipman) * ''

'' Girard, 1854 (Plainfin midshipman) * ''

Porichthys oculellus A midshipman fish is any species of toadfish belonging to the genus ''Porichthys'' (in family Batrachoididae). Midshipman fish are distinguished by their photophores (organs which attract prey and after which they are named, being said to resembl ...

'' H. J. Walker &

, 1988 (Smalleye midshipman) * ''

Porichthys oculofrenum A midshipman fish is any species of toadfish belonging to the genus ''Porichthys'' (in family Batrachoididae). Midshipman fish are distinguished by their photophores (organs which attract prey and after which they are named, being said to resembl ...

'' C. R. Gilbert, 1968 * '' Porichthys pauciradiatus'' D. K. Caldwell & M. C. Caldwell, 1963 * '' Porichthys plectrodon'' D. S. Jordan & C. H. Gilbert, 1882 (Atlantic midshipman) * ''

Porichthys porosissimus A midshipman fish is any species of toadfish belonging to the genus ''Porichthys'' (in family Batrachoididae). Midshipman fish are distinguished by their photophores (organs which attract prey and after which they are named, being said to resembl ...

'' (

G. Cuvier Jean Léopold Nicolas Frédéric, Baron Cuvier (; 23 August 1769 – 13 May 1832), known as Georges Cuvier, was a French naturalist and zoologist, sometimes referred to as the "founding father of paleontology". Cuvier was a major figure in nat ...

, 1829)

Fossil species

* †'' Porichthys analis'' -

Early Pliocene Early may refer to: History * The beginning or oldest part of a defined historical period, as opposed to middle or late periods, e.g.: ** Early Christianity ** Early modern Europe Places in the United States * Early, Iowa * Early, Texas * Early ...

Onzole Formation The Onzole Formation is an Early Pliocene (Montehermosan to Chapadmalalan in the South American land mammal age, SALMA classification) geologic Formation (geology), formation in the Borbón Basin of northwestern Ecuador. The formation consists of a ...

, EcuadorOnzole Formation
at

Fossilworks Fossilworks is a portal which provides query, download, and analysis tools to facilitate access to the Paleobiology Database The Paleobiology Database is an online resource for information on the distribution and classification of fossil animals ...

.org * †''

'' - idem * †'' Porichthys pedemontanus'' -

Tortonian The Tortonian is in the geologic time scale an age or stage of the late Miocene that spans the time between 11.608 ± 0.005 Ma and 7.246 ± 0.005 Ma (million years ago). It follows the Serravallian and is followed by the Messinian. The Torton ...

Italy''Porichthys pedemontanus''
at

.org

Biology

Reproduction and vocalization

Mating in midshipman fishes depends on auditory communication. Male midshipman fish produce several different vocalizations while females only make grunts in non-breeding situations.

References

External links

* {{Taxonbar, from=Q1909490 Batrachoididae Bioluminescent fish Extant Miocene first appearances