Cyprinodon desquamator

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Cyprinodon desquamator

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cyprinodontiformes
Family: Cyprinodontidae
Genus: Cyprinodon
Species:
C. desquamator
Binomial name
Cyprinodon desquamator

Cyprinodon desquamator is a

C. variegatus. Together, these three species represent a recent adaptive radiation,[2] each having moved into a difference niche within their specialized environment. Each of these species are defined by distinct trophic adaptations that have affected various aspects of their functional morphology,[3][4] behavior,[5] strike kinematics,[6] and reproductive coloration.[7]

Cyprinodon desquamator has enlarged adductor muscles, a small in-lever to out-lever ratio for rapidly closing its large lower jaw, and an elongated body for quickly performing scale-removing strikes on Cyprinodon and Gambusia species.[8] This species spawns during the spring and summer, although it appears to be commoner in the summer. The males guard breeding territories.[9]

Specific epithet: 'desquamator' comes from the Latin "one who removes scales from fishes", describing the scale-eating trophic specialization of this species, unique among Cyprinodontiform fishes.[10][11]

Coloration

General body color is silvery tan marked by irregular dark, wide bars along the length of the body in both sexes. Characteristic of the genus, mature males display a metallic blue anterodorsal region. This species uniquely lacks the typical black terminal margin to the caudal fin, which is replaced by black pigmentation covering the median fins.

Females and juveniles display the typical black and white

pigmentation
throughout body and fins, broken only by a speckling of metallic blue in the anterodorsal region. Unlike most congeners, breeding males do not display any orange ventral coloration that is replaced by gray or black pigmentation.[10]

References

  1. . Retrieved 9 November 2022.
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  5. S2CID 196635918. Retrieved 2021-02-10. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help
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  6. S2CID 182865619. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help
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  7. .
  8. .
  9. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2019). "Cyprinodon desquamator" in FishBase. August 2019 version.
  10. ^ a b "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-08-09. Retrieved 2022-07-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. PMID 23976994
    .