Liopropoma aurora
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Liopropoma aurora | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Liopropomatidae |
| Genus: | Liopropoma |
| Species: | L. aurora |
| Binomial name | |
| Liopropoma aurora | |
Liopropoma aurora is a species of Perciformes in the family Liopropomatidae[1][2] It is commonly known as the Sunrise basslet, or Sunset basslet, and is a species of deep-reef basslet endemic to the Hawaiian Islands.[2]
Liopropoma aurora is a stout fish with a slightly elevated back and a long, pointed head[1]. The mouth is large with a projecting lower jaw[3]. The maxillary reached the posterior margin of the pupil. The teeth are arranged in bands on the jaws, vomer, and palatines[3]. The preopercle is slightly dentate, and the opercle ends in a broad flap with a weak flat spine. The caudal peduncle is deep and the fins are relatively small[3][1].
This species is pale rosy dorsally and paler pink ventrally. A bold sulfur-yellow stripe runs from the upper jaw through the eye and into the opercular opening[1]. A secondary yellow stripe can appear across the cheek and posterior maxillary[1]. They have a yellow lower jaw tip. The dorsal fin is pale rosy while the caudal fin is dark rosy with a blackish-red edge and greenish-yellow margin lines[3]. The head and nape has a greenish-yellow vermiculation. However in alcohol, the body is a pale yellowish white with distinct brown spots and white specks.[1][3]
The head is approximately 63.5 mm as the body length is about 21 mm long[3][1]. The snout length is about 15.9 mm. the Liopropoma aurora has a scale count of 5-55-22[1][3].
The species is rarely captured and recovered from the stomachs of moray eels[1]. Its diet consists of small crustaceans and reef-associated organisms[1]. Reproductive behavior is not well documented but is suggested to follow patterns typical of serranids. Liopropoma aurora is closely related to Liopropoma lunulatum[1], which does not occur in Hawaii. Both species share yellow striping through the eye and fin banding, but they have different dorsal ray counts and caudal fin morphology[1].
Distribution and habitat
Liopropoma aurora is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands having records from Honolulu and Hilo. It inhabits deep reef environments, typically between 21 and 184 m[4], though have been observed at depths greater than 200 m[5][6]. The species is engybenthic[4], living over hard substrates with holes, reef slabs, and crevices. Photographs were taken by the Hawaiʻi Undersea Research Laboratory submersibles Makali‘i and Pisces V at depths of 162–183 m[6].
