Neovespicula depressifrons

Neovespicula depressifrons
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Scorpaeniformes
Family: Tetrarogidae
Genus: Neovespicula
Mandritsa, 2001
Species: N. depressifrons
Binomial name
Neovespicula depressifrons
(J. Richardson, 1848)

The leaf goblinfish (Neovespicula depressifrons) is a species of waspfish found in coastal habitats of the Indo-West Pacific region.[1]

Taxonomy

N. depressifrons is the sole member of the genus Neovespicula.[2] Synonyms include Apistes depressifrons and Vespicula depressifrons.[3]

Despite being traded as an aquarium fish under a variety of (somewhat misleading) common names, including dusky panther goby and butterfly goby,[4] this fish is not a goby;[1] it is in fact a member of the waspfish family Tetrarogidae within the suborder Scorpaenoidei.[1]

Morphology

N. depressifrons is a small species, reaching a maximum size of 10 cm.[1] It is similar to the bullrout in shape and colouration - mottled brown with a distinctive light stripe running along the dorsal surface from the nose and along the back of the fish.[4] It has two dorsal fins, the first being notably taller than the second.[4]

Distribution

The leaf goblinfish has been reported from Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines.[1]

Ecology

Like other waspfish, N. depressifrons is a stealthy predator that feeds on various small fish and invertebrates.[5] Also in common with other waspfish, it is equipped with venomous spines.[5] N. depressifrons is a euryhaline species, so may be found in saltwater, brackish water, and freshwater environments.[1]

Commercial importance

It is of no commercial importance, but occasionally gets traded as an aquarium fish.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2007). "Neovespicula depressifrons" in FishBase. December 2007 version.
  2. ↑ "Catalog of Fishes". California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 2008-07-05.
  3. ↑ "Synonyms of Neovespicula depressifrons (Richardson, 1848)". Fishbase. Retrieved 2008-07-05.
  4. 1 2 3 "Butterfly-goby Waspfish". Neale Monks. Retrieved 2008-07-05.
  5. 1 2 Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2007). "Tetrarogidae" in FishBase. Aug 2007 version.
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