13 Mayıs 2013 Pazartesi

American Samoa Territorial Fish

American Samoa Territorial Fish

Humpback Wrasse (common name)
Cheilinus undulatus(scientific name)

Overview

One of the largest reef fishes, the greenish-blue humpback wrasse is distinguished by its size, its thick lips, and a prominent hump on its forehead. Males are larger than females. Using its tough teeth, this very large wrasse can consume hard-shelled species.

Close-up

STATUS
Unofficial
PHYSICAL DETAILS
Length: Up to 6 ft (1.8 m)
Weight: Up to 190 lbs (86 kg)
LIFESPAN
Up to 30 years
HABITAT
Adults forage on the reef during the day and rest in reef caves and under coral ledges in the evening. They inhabit particular territories of outer reef slopes and drop-offs up to 330 feet (100 m) in depth.
Range: The Indian Ocean and South Pacific from Egypt to Mozambique and Japan to Australia.
Water type: Saltwater
Water temp: 79–86°F (26–30°C)
Conservation Status: Endangered. Threatened by the live fish trade, commercial fishing, and the degradation of coral reef habitats from pollution, sediment, and global warming. Conservation efforts are underway in the Marianas Archipelago, and commercial fishing bans are widespread.
DIET
Fish (including boxfish), clams, sea urchins, sea hares, and starfish (including the notorious crown of thorns starfish, which is very large and covered with venomous spines).
REPRODUCTION
Fertilization: External
Spawning frequency: Year-round, coinciding with phases of the tidal cycle.
Mating behavior: : Distinct pairing but pairs spawn together as parts of communal groups of up to 100 individual fish.
Egg laying: Spawns in warm ocean currents and eggs sink to the ocean floor. Adults do not guard the eggs or young.
USES
Commercial fish, aquarium fish.
OTHER NAMES
Napoleon wrasse, Napoleon fish, giant wrasse, Maori wrasse, undulate wrasse, truck wrasse, humphead.
TRIVIA
  • The humpback wrasse is a hermaphrodite that changes in body form, color, and sex during its lifetime, although the factors that trigger these changes are not known.
  • Despite or perhaps because of its endangered status, the humpback wrasse is considered a luxury food item in East Asia, where it can command a price of over $30,000 per fish.
  • The wrasse is traditionally hunted by spearfishing in the South Pacific and therefore has cultural importance to some Pacific countries. This practice is generally banned now due to the depletion of the species.

Click to enlarge an image
State Fish
Humpback Wrasse
State Fish
Large Humpback Wrasse
State Fish
Close up of Humpback Wrasse

CLASSIFICATION
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Actinopterygii
Order:Perciformes
Family:Labridae
Genus:Cheilinus
Species:C. undulatus
Raw Data Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Author: World Trade Press


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