Whitaker's sole

📖 Overview

Whitaker's sole (Aseraggodes whitakeri), first described by Woods, 1966 is a tiny fish in the family Soleidae (order Pleuronectiformes). Adults typically reach 4.00 cm in maximum length. It inhabits marine coastal and open-ocean environments. Recorded depth range: 0 to 37 metres. It occurs in Tropical waters. It feeds on a mix of small fish and invertebrates as a mid-level predator. On the IUCN Red List, it is classified as Least Concern.

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal soft rays (total): 71 - 78; Anal soft rays: 48 - 53; Vertebrae: 36 - 38. Diagnosis. Dorsal rays 71-78; anal rays 48-53; pelvic rays 5 (3 in one side on one aberrant specimen); caudal rays 18, 14 branched (17 rays, 13 branched in one specimen). Lateral-line scales 77-86, including 10-12 anterior to a vertical at upper end of gill opening). Most scales of ocular side of body with 8-10 cteni (up to 11 on largest specimens); narrowest interorbital space with 2 scales; eyes with only I or 2 scales extending onto medial edge, and only about 3 rows anteriorly. Vertebrae 36-38; dorsal pterygiophores anterior to fourth neural spine 14-15. Body depth 2.55-2.75 in SL; head length (HL) 4.1-4.35 in SL. An overhanging fleshy snout, the lower edge of upper lip usually extending ventral to lower lip and jutting anterior to profile of head below mouth (more evident in smaller specimens); eye diameter 4.7-5.55 in HL; upper eye varying from one-half to full eye diameter anterior to lower eye; interorbital space very narrow, the vertical distance separating eyes less than half eye diameter. Caudal peduncle present, its length 7.2-10.0 in HL. Ventral edge of head posterior to mouth with 10-19 lappet-like cirri; edge of operculum at gill opening with slender well-spaced cirri on both sides; edge of lengthwise membranous ridges of dorsal and anal rays of ocular side with cirri, reduced and disappearing on about posterior half of fins; cirri also present on rays of blind side, but fewer and restricted to more anterior rays. Lateral line aligned with dorsal edge of upper eye; upper end of gill opening in line with ventral fleshy edge of lower eye; anterior nostril reaching fleshy base of lower eye when laid back. Caudal fin slightly pointed, its length 3.05-3.65 in SL; longest dorsal ray 1.4-1.8 in HL; anal rays and all but anterior dorsal rays of larger specimens branched distally; pelvic fins long 1.65-1.85 in HL, the tip of longest ray extending to base of third or fourth anal ray. Color in alcohol of ocular side of most specimens pale tan without any dark markings; American Samoan specimens with faint dark blotches in 3 rows on the ocular side, one row below base of dorsal fin, one along lateral line and one above base of anal fin; yellowish tan with many irregular pale markings partially outlined with dusky brown; fins pale with dusky specks .: short and / or deep.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Whitaker's sole is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 37 m . Tropical; 35°N - 23°S, 130°E - 175°W Pacific Ocean: Marshall Islands and Society Islands.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

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