''Plesiops'' is a

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 ...

ray-finned fish Actinopterygii (; ), members of which are known as ray-finned fishes, is a class of bony fish. They comprise over 50% of living vertebrate species. The ray-finned fishes are so called because their fins are webs of skin supported by bony or h ...

es in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Plesiopidae The longfins, also known as roundheads or spiny basslets, are a family, Plesiopidae, which were formerly placed in the order Perciformes but are now regarded as being ''incertae sedis'' in the subseries Ovalentaria in the clade Percomorpha. They ...

. It is a genus of small fishes which vary in length from and and which live in shallow coral flats or around heads of coral. They have elongated

pelvic fin Pelvic fins or ventral fins are paired fins located on the ventral surface of fish. The paired pelvic fins are homologous to the hindlimbs of tetrapods. Structure and function Structure In actinopterygians, the pelvic fin consists of two e ...

s and the other fins are marked with colourful patterns such as stripes and these give name to the common names "

longfin The longfins, also known as roundheads or spiny basslets, are a family, Plesiopidae, which were formerly placed in the order Perciformes but are now regarded as being ''incertae sedis'' in the subseries Ovalentaria in the clade Percomorpha. They ...

" and "prettyfin". They are thought to be

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 are infrequently seen in the wild. They are carnivorous and their diet is made up of

crustacean Crustaceans (Crustacea, ) form a large, diverse arthropod taxon which includes such animals as decapods, seed shrimp, branchiopods, fish lice, krill, remipedes, isopods, barnacles, copepods, amphipods and mantis shrimp. The crustacean gro ...

s, gastropods and small fishes and sometimes on

brittle star Brittle stars, serpent stars, or ophiuroids (; ; referring to the serpent-like arms of the brittle star) are echinoderms in the class Ophiuroidea, closely related to starfish. They crawl across the sea floor using their flexible arms for locom ...

s. A defining characteristic of this genus is that they lay elongated eggs which are laid under rocks or overhangs and are guarded by the male.

Species

The following species are currently recognised within the genus ''Plesiops'': * ''

Plesiops auritus ''Plesiops auritus'' is a species of marine fish belonging to the family Plesiopidae The longfins, also known as roundheads or spiny basslets, are a family, Plesiopidae, which were formerly placed in the order Perciformes but are now regarded a ...

'' * ''

Plesiops cephalotaenia ''Plesiops'' is a genus of ray-finned fishes in the family Plesiopidae. It is a genus of small fishes which vary in length from and and which live in shallow coral flats or around heads of coral. They have elongated pelvic fins and the other fi ...

'' * ''

Plesiops coeruleolineatus ''Plesiops coeruleolineatus'', the crimsontip longfin or coral devil, is a species of fish in the family Plesiopidae. Description ''P. coeruleolineatus'' has an elongated body that grows to a length of . Although colours vary, it is generally ha ...

'' * ''

Plesiops corallicola ''Plesiops'' is a genus of ray-finned fishes in the family Plesiopidae. It is a genus of small fishes which vary in length from and and which live in shallow coral flats or around heads of coral. They have elongated pelvic fins and the other fi ...

'' * '' Plesiops facicavus'' * '' Plesiops genaricus'' * '' Plesiops gracilis'' * '' Plesiops insularis'' * '' Plesiops malalaxus'' * '' Plesiops multisquamata'' * '' Plesiops mystaxus'' * '' Plesiops nakaharae'' * ''

Plesiops nigricans ''Plesiops'' is a genus of ray-finned fishes in the family Plesiopidae. It is a genus of small fishes which vary in length from and and which live in shallow coral flats or around heads of coral. They have elongated pelvic fins and the other fi ...

'' * ''

Plesiops oxycephalus ''Plesiops'' is a genus of ray-finned fishes in the family Plesiopidae. It is a genus of small fishes which vary in length from and and which live in shallow coral flats or around heads of coral. They have elongated pelvic fins and the other ...

'' * '' Plesiops polydactylus'' * '' Plesiops thysanopterus'' * ''

Plesiops verecundus ''Plesiops'' is a genus of ray-finned fishes in the family Plesiopidae. It is a genus of small fishes which vary in length from and and which live in shallow coral flats or around heads of coral. They have elongated pelvic fins and the other fi ...

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2661839 Plesiopinae Taxa named by Lorenz Oken