| Stichaeus | |
|---|---|
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| Arctic shanny (Sticheus punctatus) | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Stichaeidae |
| Subfamily: | Stichaeinae |
| Genus: | Stichaeus Reinhardt, 1836 |
| Type species | |
| Gobius punctatus | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Stichaeus is agenus of marineray-finned fishes belonging to thefamilyStichaeidae, the pricklebacks or shannies. These fishes are mainly found in the North Pacific Ocean with one species in the Arctic and western North Atlantic Oceans.
Stichaeus was first proposed as amonospecific genus in 1836 by the DanishzoologistJohan Reinhardt withBlennius punctatus, which wasdescribed byJohan Christian Fabricius in 1780 from westernGreenland, designated as thetype species.[1][2] This genus is classified within thesubfamilyStichaeinae of theZoarcoid family Stichaeidae.[3]
Stichaeus contains 6 extant species and 2 known extinct species, as follows:[4][5][6]
† means extinct
The genus name,Stichaeus means "to set in a row", and is presumed to refer to the row of 5 or 6 circular spots on thedorsal fin.[7]
Stichaeus species have moderately elongated, laterally compressed bodies which are covered in tinycycloid scales, although the head is scaleless. There are teeth on the jaws,vomer andpalatine. The teeth on the upper jaw are arranged in between two and four rows while those in the lower jaw form a single row. The jaws are equal in length or the lower jaw may just protrude beyond the upper jaw. The head has a number of sensory canals which are made up of pores and are used to sense vibrations. The singlelateral line does not reach thecaudal fin and appears to be an extension of the post orbital sensory canal. The anal fin has no rear spines.[8] These fishes vary in length from a maximum published standard length of 7.9 cm (3.1 in) inS. fuscus while the largest species areS. grigorjewi andS. nozawae which have maximum publishedtotal lengths of 60 cm (24 in).[4]
Stichaeus fishes are largely found in the northwestern Pacific vut one species,S. punctatus extends into the western Arctic Ocean and the north western Atlantic Ocean. These are coastal fishes but can be found to depths of 300 m (980 ft).[3]