Emmelichthyops atlanticus

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Supergroup: Opisthokonta
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Cladus: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Osteichthyes
Classis: Actinopterygii
Subclassis: Neopterygii
Infraclassis: Teleostei
Superordo: Acanthopterygii
Ordo: Perciformes
Subordo: Percoidei
Superfamilia: Percoidea
Familia: Inermiidae
Genus: Emmelichthyops
Species: E. atlanticus

Vernacular names

The Bonnetmouth, Emmelichthyops atlanticus, is an ocean-going species of fish in the Bonnetmouth family, or Inermiidae. It is also known as the Bogita and the Slender bonnetmouth in the Bahamas and the John moriggle in Jamaica. The Bonnetmouth is the only member of the genus Emmelichthyops, and is one of only two species in its family, the other being the Boga, Inermia vittata.

Description

Bonnetmouths are similar to the only other member of its family, the Boga, or Inermia vittata.[1] The Bonnetmouth, however, has a more cigar-shaped body than its relative.[1] They also have a two distinct dorsal fins, with 10-11 spines and the same number of rays,[2] while the Boga has one dorsal fins.[1] The dorsal midline between the Bonnetmouth's fins is regularly scaled.[1] Adults usually grow about 11.4 cm;[3] the maximum recorded individual was 13 cm in length.[4]

Bonnetmouths are generally yellowish gray, with some blue anteriorly, with silvery-white on the sides.[3] Adults also have four brown stripes on the upper halves (one mid-dorsal) of their bodies, while juveniles have only three.[3] These stripes are usually more evident anteriorly; they become more and more faded as they approach the Bonnetmouth's tail.[3]

Distribution and habitat

Found only in the western Atlantic ocean, Bonnetmouths can be seen from southern Florida and the Bahamas to northern South America. They can be captured most often near the Florida keys, U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Bahamas.[1] In fact, the type specimens were both collected off the Bahamas' Cat island[1] They are generally associated with reefs[5] and can be found over coral heads in small groups.[4] Bonnetmouths can be found at depths from 3– 90 meters, but mainly occur in schools at about 64m.[6]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Bohlke, James E. Charles C. G. Chaplin. Fishes of the Bahamas and Adjacent Tropical Waters. 2nd edition. Austin, UP of Texas. 304.
2. ^ Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2009). "Inermia vittata" in FishBase. 08 2009 version.
3. ^ a b c d Randall, John E. Caribbean Reef Fishes. 1968, Jersey City, New Jersey, T.H.F. Publications. 93
4. ^ a b Lieske, E. and R. Myers 1994 Collins Pocket Guide. Coral reef fishes. Indo-Pacific & Caribbean including the Red Sea. Haper Collins Publishers, 400 p.
5. ^ Riede, K. 2004 Global register of migratory species - from global to regional scales. Final Report of the R&D-Projekt 808 05 081. Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, Bonn, Germany. 329 p.
6. ^ Smith, C.L. 1997 National Audubon Society field guide to tropical marine fishes of the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, Florida, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York. 720 p.