A midshipman fish is any species of

toadfish Toadfish is the common name for a variety of species from several different families of fish, usually because of their toad-like appearance. "Dogfish" is a name for certain species along the gulf coast. Dolphin-Toadfish relationship Toadfish mak ...

belonging to the

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial n ...

''Porichthys'' (in family

Batrachoididae Batrachoididae is the only family in the ray-finned fish order Batrachoidiformes . Members of this family are usually called toadfish, or "frogfish": both the English common name and scientific name refer to their toad-like appearance (''batrakh ...

). Midshipman fish are distinguished by their

photophore A photophore is a glandular organ that appears as luminous spots on various marine animals, including fish and cephalopods. The organ can be simple, or as complex as the human eye; equipped with lenses, shutters, color filters and reflectors, h ...

s (organs which attract prey and after which they are named, being said to resemble the buttons of a naval uniform) and four lateral lines. Typical midshipman fishes, such as the plainfin midshipman ('' Porichthys notatus''), are

nocturnal Nocturnality is an ethology, animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal", versus diurnality, diurnal meaning the opposite. Nocturnal creatures generally have ...

and bury themselves in sand or mud in the intertidal zone during the day. At night they float just above the seabed. Some species have venomous dorsal spines and are capable of inflicting serious injuries if handled.

Description

Male midshipman fish have two morphs: type I and type II. Type I and type II males have different reproductive strategies, and can be distinguished from each other based on physical characteristics. Type I males are eight times larger in body mass, and have much larger vocal organs. Type II males’ reproductive organs are seven times larger in size than those of type I males. Female and type II male midshipman fish can be distinguished from each other by the female’s slightly larger size, and the type II male midshipman’s large reproductive organs.

Species

Atlantic midshipman ( Porichthys plectrodon )

Extant species

There are currently 14 recognized extant species in this genus: * '' Porichthys analis'' C. L. Hubbs & L. P. Schultz, 1939 (Darkedge midshipman) * '' Porichthys bathoiketes'' C. R. Gilbert, 1968 * '' Porichthys ephippiatus'' H. J. Walker &

Rosenblatt Rosenblatt is a surname of German and Jewish origin, meaning " rose leaf". People with this surname include: *Albert Rosenblatt (born 1936), New York Court of Appeals judge *Dana Rosenblatt, known as "Dangerous" (born 1972), American boxer *Elie R ...

, 1988 (Saddle midshipman) * '' Porichthys greenei'' C. H. Gilbert & Starks, 1904 (Greene's midshipman) * '' Porichthys kymosemeum'' C. R. Gilbert, 1968 * '' Porichthys margaritatus'' ( J. Richardson, 1844) (Daisy midshipman) * '' Porichthys mimeticus'' H. J. Walker &

, 1988 (Mimetic midshipman) * '' Porichthys myriaster'' C. L. Hubbs & L. P. Schultz, 1939 (Specklefin midshipman) * '' Porichthys notatus'' Girard, 1854 (Plainfin midshipman) * '' Porichthys oculellus'' H. J. Walker &

, 1988 (Smalleye midshipman) * '' Porichthys oculofrenum'' C. R. Gilbert, 1968 * '' Porichthys pauciradiatus'' D. K. Caldwell & M. C. Caldwell, 1963 * ''

Porichthys plectrodon Porichthys plectrodon (common names include Atlantic midshipman) is a species of the Batrachoididae family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), ...

'' D. S. Jordan & C. H. Gilbert, 1882 (Atlantic midshipman) * '' Porichthys porosissimus'' ( G. Cuvier, 1829)

Fossil species

* †'' Porichthys analis'' -

Early Pliocene Early may refer to: History * The beginning or oldest part of a defined historical period, as opposed to middle or late periods, e.g.: ** Early Christianity ** Early modern Europe Places in the United States * Early, Iowa * Early, Texas * Early ...

Onzole Formation, EcuadorOnzole Formation
at

Fossilworks Fossilworks is a portal which provides query, download, and analysis tools to facilitate access to the Paleobiology Database, a large relational database assembled by hundreds of paleontologists from around the world. History Fossilworks was cre ...

.org * †'' Porichthys margaritatus'' - idem * †''

Porichthys pedemontanus A midshipman fish is any species of toadfish belonging to the genus ''Porichthys'' (in family Batrachoididae). Midshipman fish are distinguished by their photophores (organs which attract prey and after which they are named, being said to resem ...

'' -

Tortonian The Tortonian is in the geologic time scale an age or stage of the late Miocene that spans the time between 11.608 ± 0.005 Ma and 7.246 ± 0.005 Ma (million years ago). It follows the Serravallian and is followed by the Messinian. The Tort ...

Italy''Porichthys pedemontanus''
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.org

Biology

Reproduction and vocalization

Mating in midshipman fishes depends on auditory communication. Male midshipman fish produce several different vocalizations while females only make grunts in non-breeding situations.

References

External links

* {{Taxonbar, from=Q1909490 Batrachoididae Bioluminescent fish Extant Miocene first appearances