Midshipman fish

Midshipman fish
Temporal range: Late Miocene-Present[1]
~11.6–0 Ma
Plainfin midshipman (Porichthys notatus)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Batrachoidiformes
Family: Batrachoididae
Subfamily: Porichthyinae
Genus: Porichthys
Girard 1854
Type species
Porichthys notatus
Girard 1854[2]
Species

See text

A midshipman fish is any species of toadfish belonging to the genus Porichthys (in family Batrachoididae). Historically, there have been two common names. Porichthys refers to the well developed pores on the fish, and this led to the common name "Porous Catfish".[3] The other common name, "Midshipman" is based on the pattern of button-like luminous spots (photophores) which resemble the buttons on the uniforms of young naval officers known as midshipmen.[4]

Midshipman fish are distinguished by their photophores and four lateral lines. Typical midshipman fishes, such as the plainfin midshipman (Porichthys notatus), are nocturnal and bury themselves in sand or mud in the intertidal zone during the day, to float just above the seabed at night. Some species have venomous dorsal spines and are capable of inflicting serious injuries if handled.[5]

  1. ^ Sepkoski, Jack (2002). "A compendium of fossil marine animal genera". Bulletins of American Paleontology. 364: 560. Archived from the original on 2011-07-23. Retrieved 2008-01-08.
  2. ^ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Porichthys". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  3. ^ Cooper, James Graham; Suckley, George; Cooper, William; Gibbs, George; Gray, Asa; LeConte, John L. (1859). The Natural History of Washington Territory. New York: Bailliere Brothers. p. 356.
  4. ^ Jordan, David S.; Bollman, Charles H. (1889). "Scientific results of explorations by steamer Albatross". Proceedings of the United States National Museum. 12: 149–183.
  5. ^ Lopes-Ferreira, Mônica; Ramos, Anderson Daniel; Martins, Itamar Alves; Lima, Carla; Conceição, Katia; Haddad, Vidal (August 2014). "Clinical manifestations and experimental studies on the spine extract of the toadfish Porichthys porosissimus". Toxicon. 86: 28–39. doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2014.04.014. PMID 24814010.