Japanese deepwater clingfish

📖 Overview

Japanese deepwater clingfish (Kopua japonica), first described by Moore, Hutchins & Okamoto, 2012 is a tiny fish in the family Gobiesocidae (order Gobiesociformes). Adults typically reach 3.00 cm in maximum length. It inhabits marine coastal and open-ocean environments. Recorded depth range: 225 to 228 metres. It occurs in Deep-water waters. It is broadly omnivorous, taking invertebrates, plant matter, and detritus.

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal soft rays (total): 6; Anal soft rays: 5. This species is has large eyes, separated by a very narrow interorbital, and has the distinctive fringed posterior ventral sucking disc. It is distinguished from Kopua nuimata and Kopua kuiteri by having 5 anal fin rays (vs. 8 or 9 and 7 in the latter species, respectively) and 3 sensory head pores (vs. 7 and 2 in the latter species, respectively). It is further distinct from K. nuimata by a lower dorsal fin ray count (6 vs. 10 or 11). Color when fresh (based on photo of freshly collected holotype): base colour pale cream-white, with numerous bright reddish orange bars on sides of body that merge dorsally to form distinctive arches; dorsum with numerous yellowish bands on pink-orange background; head and operculum orange; eye gold, tending blackish dorsally, with pale ring around a black pupil; all fins are translucent orange, except pelvic fins, which are hyaline white .: elongated.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Japanese deepwater clingfish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; demersal; depth range 225 - 228 m . Deep-water Northwest Pacific: East China Sea, Japan.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

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