Pegasus lancifer, the sculptured seamoth or sculptured dragonfish,[1] is a species of fish in the family Pegasidae which is endemic to the temperate seas of southern Australia and Tasmania. They are known to gather in large numbers in the shallows of estuaries. Individuals can bury themselves in the sediment and change colours to camouflage them. The male & female spawn as a pair, swimming with their vents touching around a 1 metre (3.3 ft) above the substrate, while the eggs and sperm are released. After spawning the pair separates and the eggs begin a pelagic phase.[2]
Pegasus lancifer | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Syngnathiformes |
Family: | Pegasidae |
Genus: | Pegasus |
Species: | P. lancifer
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Binomial name | |
Pegasus lancifer Kaup, 1861
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Synonyms | |
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Gallery
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Pollom, R. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Pegasus lancifer". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T16474A115133751. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T16474A1072936.en.
- ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2018). "Pegasus lancifer" in FishBase. April 2018 version.