The finescaled four-eyed fish (Anableps microlepis) is a species of four-eyed fish found in coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean from Trinidad and Tobago down to southeastern Brazil.[2][3][4] They mostly inhabit brackish environments such as estuaries, mangrove swamps, and tidal mudflats. It grows to approximately 30 cm (12 in) in length.[2][5]
| Anableps microlepis | |
|---|---|
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| Anableps microlepis from Meerzorg, Suriname | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Cyprinodontiformes |
| Family: | Anablepidae |
| Genus: | Anableps |
| Species: | A. microlepis
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| Binomial name | |
| Anableps microlepis | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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This fish mostly feeds on organic matter and small invertebrates. In Manzanilla, this fish was found to feed on sand crabs (Emerita portoricensis) and small bivalves (Donax denticulatus).[6] While looking for food, they travel up and down the coastline in large groups ranging from a dozen to more than a hundred fish.[6]
Like other members of Anableps, this species has eyes that are split into two lobes, allowing it to see above and below water at the same time.[7] They can be distinguished from the sympatric Anableps anableps by having smaller and more numerous scales (76-83 compared to the less than 64 of A. anableps).[5] They also have a left or right-leaning gonopodium like other Anablepidae members and give live birth.[8]
References edit
- ^ "Anableps microlepis". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
- ^ a b Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2022). "Anableps microlepis" in FishBase. February 2022 version.
- ^ "Anableps microlepis" at the Encyclopedia of Life
- ^ Garcia; et al. (May 2015). "Coastal fishes of Rio Grande do Norte, northeastern Brazil, with new records". Check List. 11 (3): 1–24 – via ResearchGate.
- ^ a b "Species: Anableps microlepis, Finescale four-eyes". Shorefishes. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
- ^ a b Kerwath; et al. (January 2001). "Feeding habits of Anableps microlepis (Anablepidae, Cyprinodontiformes) from two ecologically different habitats in Trinidad, West Indies". Verhandlungen der Gesellschaft für Ichthyologie. 2: 119–129 – via ResearchGate.
- ^ Schwassmann; et al. (July 1966). "Experimental analysis of the visual system of the four-eyed fish Anableps microlepis". Vision Research. 5 (5): 269–281 – via ResearchGate.
- ^ Götz, Albrecht (June 1998). Field research on reproduction, growth and age of Anableps microlepis in Trinidad (Thesis). Institute of Zoology II Science Department II – via ResearchGate.