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🌊 Marine Least Concern 🌡️ Temperate

Twister

Bellapiscis medius Günther, 1861
Max Length
7.5 cm
Max Weight
Lifespan
Trophic Level
3.5
Depth
0–5 m
Climate
Temperate
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
15.00/100
Typical Length
Depth Zone
demersal

📖 Overview

Facultative air-breathing ; Adults occur in rock pools and surge zones. They may remain out of water under rocks or seaweed . They feed on mollusks and minute crustaceans, including barnacles. This agile species eludes predators by alternately remaining motionless, then rapidly darting to a new location. Feeding occurs even in the swash zone where the fish rapidly darts with the surge and clinging to the rock as the water recedes, often being left exposed on the damp open rock . Eggs are hemispherical and covered with numerous sticky threads that anchor them in the algae on the nesting sites . Larvae are planktonic which occur primarily in shallow, nearshore waters . They breathe air when out of water .

Scientific Name
Bellapiscis medius
Authority
Günther, 1861
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Temperate
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
7.5 cm
Depth Range
0–5 m
Trophic Level
3.5
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
15.00/100
Migration
Non-migratory
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

Genus
Bellapiscis
Bellapiscis
Species
Twister
Bellapiscis medius

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 18 - 21; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 14; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 20 - 23. : fusiform / normal.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Twister is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Twister is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Eggs are deposited over the undersurface of a rock where they are fertilized and guarded by the male .

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; demersal; non-migratory; depth range 0 - 5 m . Temperate Southwest Pacific: endemic to New Zealand.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine ⬇️ Benthic
Migration
Non-migratory
Trophic Level
3.5±0.4
Food Items

mollusks and minute crustaceans, including barnacles

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00776 × L3.08 (TL)
Max TL
7.5cm
Dorsal Spines
20
Dorsal Rays
12
Anal Spines
2
Anal Rays
22

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2010

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
High
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
15.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.5
Predator
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
Climate Zone
Temperate
Described By
Günther, 1861

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