Evermannichthys bicolor
Species of fish
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Evermannichthys bicolor (bicolored sponge goby) is a perciform species of fish in the family Gobiidae.[2] As their name suggests, fishes in this species live inside sponges and can be found in the Caribbean Sea.[2][3] The size of their populations are unknown, meaning it is not currently clear whether the bicolored sponge goby is in need of conservation.[1]
| Evermannichthys bicolor | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Division: | Teleostei |
| Order: | Gobiiformes |
| Family: | Gobiidae |
| Genus: | Evermannichthys |
| Species: | E. bicolor |
| Binomial name | |
| Evermannichthys bicolor Thacker, 2001[2] | |
Description
Overall, the body of the bicolored sponge goby is elongate and thin.[3] The scale-covering and the number pores on the head is reduced, and generally measures 2 mm dorso-ventrally.[3] Their color is dark across the dorsal-most third of their bodies, the lower two-thirds are pale, and the fins are generally clear.[2] The frenum, which connects the upper lip to the snout is reduced in size, though the upper lip and snout are separated.[2] The tongue has a notched edge.[2]
Distribution and habitat
This species is demersal living between 27 and 30 m below the surface of tropical oceans.[2] It can be found in the western Atlantic Ocean, especially near the island of Navassa, Jamaica, and Curaçao[1][3] Very little is known about the population numbers and conservation of this species, and it is considered data deficient by the IUCN.[1]
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The bicolored sponge goby, as its name implies, lives inside sponges.[3] Specifically, it lives deep within the sponge, near the openings of the in-current canals.[3] The sponges provide protection for the bicolored sponge goby, as well as food, which is transported into the sponge via the in-current canals.[3] It is thought that this species spends its entire life in sponges, and that its eggs either drift into a sponge from open water or are laid directly within a sponge.[3]
Conservation
Bicolored sponge gobies are considered data deficient by the IUCN, meaning that estimations of the total number of individuals and the trend of the population through time is unknown.[1] The species is not used by humans in any way, and no threats to them have been identified.[1] While no specific actions have been taken to conserve this species, many portions of their native range (including their type locality) are protected areas.[1]