Torquigener albomaculosus
| Torquigener albomaculosus | |
|---|---|
| Not evaluated (IUCN 3.1) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Tetraodontiformes |
| Family: | Tetraodontidae |
| Genus: | Torquigener |
| Species: | T. albomaculosus |
| Binomial name | |
| Torquigener albomaculosus Matsuura, 2014 | |
Torquigener albomaculosus, or the white-spotted pufferfish, is the twentieth discovered[1] species of the genus Torquigener. The species was discovered in the ocean waters around the Ryukyu Islands in Japan off the south coast of Amami Oshima Island.[1] Observed depths of the species range between 10 to 27 m (33–89 ft).[1] The fish's head and body are colored brown with white spots at the back.[1] Its abdomen is silvery-white with white spots.[1]
The males are known for creating circular-shaped nests in the sand, measuring 2 m (6.6 ft) in diameter.[2] Such nest designs were noticed since 1995, but their creation remained a mystery until the species' discovery.[1] The nests are created to attract mates through the nest's impressive design and ability to gather fine sand particles, both of which influence a female's mate choice.[1][3] Males never reuse a nest.[3] As of 2014, the white-spotted pufferfish is thought to be the only species of pufferfish that create the shapes.[1]
In 2015, the International Institute for Species Exploration names it as one of the "Top 10 New Species" for new species discovered in 2014.[4][5]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "New pufferfish species named". BBC Earth. 9 December 2014.
- ↑ Matsuura K (2014). "A new pufferfish of the genus Torquigener that builds "mystery circles" on sandy bottoms in the Ryukyu Islands, Japan (Actinopterygii: Tetraodontiformes: Tetraodontidae)". Ichthyological Research. 62 (2): 207–212. doi:10.1007/s10228-014-0428-5.
- 1 2 Kawase, H., Okata, Y., & Ito, K. (2013). "Role of Huge Geometric Circular Structures in the Reproduction of a Marine Pufferfish". Scientific Reports. 3. PMC 3696902
. PMID 23811799. doi:10.1038/srep02106. - ↑ "The ESF Top 10 New Species for 2015". State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
- ↑ Berenson, Tessa (21 May 2015). "These Are the Top 10 New Species Discovered Last Year". Time. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
Habits The white-spotted pufferfish have been known to create interesting sand patterns on the ocean floor to attract a mate. [1]