Anableps microlepis

Species of four-eyed fish From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Anableps microlepis

The finescaled four-eyed fish (Anableps microlepis) is a species of four-eyed fish found in coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean from Trinidad and Tobago down to southeastern Brazil.[3][4][5] They mostly inhabit brackish environments such as estuaries, mangrove swamps, and tidal mudflats. It grows to approximately 30 cm (12 in) in length.[3][6]

Quick Facts Conservation status, Scientific classification ...
Anableps microlepis
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Anableps microlepis from Meerzorg, Suriname
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cyprinodontiformes
Family: Anablepidae
Genus: Anableps
Species:
A. microlepis
Binomial name
Anableps microlepis
Synonyms[2]
  • Anableps coarctatus Valenciennes, 1846
  • Anableps elongatus Valenciennes, 1846
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This fish mostly feeds on organic matter and small invertebrates. In Manzanilla, this fish was found to feed on sand crabs (Emerita portoricensis) and small bivalves (Donax denticulatus).[7] While looking for food, they travel up and down the coastline in large groups ranging from a dozen to more than a hundred fish.[7]

Like other members of Anableps, this species has eyes that are split into two lobes, allowing it to see above and below water at the same time.[8] They can be distinguished from the sympatric Anableps anableps by having smaller and more numerous scales (76-83 compared to the less than 64 of A. anableps).[6] They also have a left or right-leaning gonopodium like other Anablepidae members and give live birth.[9]

References

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