''Symphysanodon'', also known as the slopefishes, 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 small marine fishes. Most are found in the
Indo-Pacific
The Indo-Pacific is a vast biogeographic region of Earth.
In a narrow sense, sometimes known as the Indo-West Pacific or Indo-Pacific Asia, it comprises the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, the western and central Pacific Ocean, and the ...
, but three species, ''S. berryi'', ''S. mona'', and ''S. octoactinus'', are found in the Western Atlantic. They are found on rocky reefs at depths of . Traditionally, this genus is the only member of the family
Symphysanodontidae
''Symphysanodon'', also known as the slopefishes, is a genus of small marine fishes. Most are found in the Indo-Pacific, but three species, ''S. berryi'', ''S. mona'', and ''S. octoactinus'', are found in the Western Atlantic. They are found on ...
, but in 2017 a new species, ''C. aureolateralis'', was placed in its own genus '' Cymatognathus''.
Description
The largest
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of ''Symphysanodon'' can reach in length. Their bodies are slender and compressed, with blunt snouts. They are red, pink, oranges or yellow in colour. The
caudal 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 ...
is usually distinctively forked. 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 ...
s have 9 dorsal spines and 10
soft ray
Fish anatomy is the study of the form or morphology of fish. It can be contrasted with fish physiology, which is the study of how the component parts of fish function together in the living fish. In practice, fish anatomy and fish physiology co ...
s, whereas the
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 ...
has three anal spines and seven or eight soft rays.
Species
There are currently 12 recognized species in this genus:
* '' Symphysanodon andersoni'' Kotthaus, 1974 (Buck-toothed slopefish)Anderson, W.D.Jr., Chesalin, M.V., Jawad, L.A. & Al Shajibi, S.R. (2015): Redescription of the percoid fish ''Symphysanodon andersoni'' Kotthaus (Symphysanodontidae) from the northwestern Indian Ocean, based on the holotype and the second known specimen. ''Zootaxa, 4021 (3): 475-481.''
* ''
Symphysanodon berryi
''Symphysanodon'', also known as the slopefishes, is a genus of small marine fishes. Most are found in the Indo-Pacific, but three species, ''S. berryi'', ''S. mona'', and ''S. octoactinus'', are found in the Western Atlantic. They are found on ...
Symphysanodon disii
''Symphysanodon'', also known as the slopefishes, is a genus of small marine fishes. Most are found in the Indo-Pacific, but three species, ''S. berryi'', ''S. mona'', and ''S. octoactinus'', are found in the Western Atlantic. They are found on ...
Krupp
The Krupp family (see pronunciation), a prominent 400-year-old German dynasty from Essen, is notable for its production of steel, artillery, ammunition and other armaments. The family business, known as Friedrich Krupp AG (Friedrich Krup ...
, 2008 (Disi's slopefish)
* ''
Symphysanodon katayamai
''Symphysanodon'', also known as the slopefishes, is a genus of small marine fishes. Most are found in the Indo-Pacific, but three species, ''S. berryi'', ''S. mona'', and ''S. octoactinus'', are found in the Western Atlantic. They are found on ...
Symphysanodon mona
''Symphysanodon'', also known as the slopefishes, is a genus of small marine fishes. Most are found in the Indo-Pacific, but three species, ''S. berryi'', ''S. mona'', and ''S. octoactinus'', are found in the Western Atlantic. They are found on ...
Symphysanodon octoactinus
''Symphysanodon'', also known as the slopefishes, is a genus of small marine fishes. Most are found in the Indo-Pacific, but three species, ''S. berryi'', ''S. mona'', and ''S. octoactinus'', are found in the Western Atlantic. They are found on ...
Symphysanodon parini
''Symphysanodon'', also known as the slopefishes, is a genus of small marine fishes. Most are found in the Indo-Pacific, but three species, ''S. berryi'', ''S. mona'', and ''S. octoactinus'', are found in the Western Atlantic. They are found on ...
Symphysanodon pitondelafournaisei
''Symphysanodon'', also known as the slopefishes, is a genus of small marine fishes. Most are found in the Indo-Pacific, but three species, ''S. berryi'', ''S. mona'', and ''S. octoactinus'', are found in the Western Atlantic. They are found on ...
Spitz
Spitz (derived from the German word ''spitz'' 'pointed') is a type of domestic dog characterized by long, thick, and often white fur, and pointed ears and muzzles. The tail often curls over the dog's back or droops. While all of the breeds rese ...
Bleeker Bleeker is a Dutch occupational surname. Bleeker is an old spelling of ''(linnen)bleker'' ("linen bleacher").Symphysanodon xanthopterygion'' W. D. Anderson & Bineesh, 2011 (Indian slopefish)Anderson, W.D.Jr. & Bineesh, K.K. (2011): A new species of the perciform fish genus ''Symphysanodon'' (Symphysanodontidae) from the Arabian Sea off the southwestern coast of India. ''Zootaxa, 2966: 31-36.''