Deroy's cuskeel
📖 Overview
Inhabits rocky crevices . Two paratypes that were collected at low tide between blocks of lava in about 50 cm of water, were observed to move slowly close to the sand bottom. Experiments that were carried out showed that O. deroyi can tolerate a wide variation in salinity, but not the low salinity in which O. galapagosensis lives. Consequently, there is an ecological barrier separating the two species. Only about five embryos were observed in ripe females .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal soft rays (total): 68 - 80; Anal soft rays: 51 - 59; Vertebrae: 39 - 43. This species is characterized by the following: vertebrae 11-12 + 27-31 = 39-43, dorsal fin rays 68-80, anal fin rays 51-59; outer pseudoclasper with a broad base and long supporter with sharp, pointed tip; inner pseudoclasper is anteriorly inclined, of about length of outer pseudoclasper, with sharp, spine-like tip anteriorly and fleshy flap posteriorly; isthmus between pseudoclaspers wide, penis with abrupt change in thickness; opercular spine with a single, sharp tip; cheeks naked or with few isolated scales (less than 10 scales all together); otolith length: height ratio 2.1-2.2; upper preopercular pore absent .: elongated.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Deroy's cuskeel is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 10 m . Tropical Southeast Pacific: Galapagos Islands.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🔍 Similar Species
👥 Community & Contribute
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