Summary
The striped beakfish (Oplegnathus fasciatus) is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a knifejaw from the family Oplegnathidae. It is native to the north-western Pacific Ocean, though a smattering of records exist from other localities in the eastern Pacific such as Hawaii and Chile. Recently introduced – probably via ballast water – in the central Mediterranean, it is found very rarely from Malta to the northern Adriatic.[1]
| Striped beakfish | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Oplegnathidae |
| Genus: | Oplegnathus |
| Species: | O. fasciatus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Oplegnathus fasciatus | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
It is an inhabitant of rocky reefs and occurs at depths from 1 to 10 m (3 to 33 ft). Juvenile members of this species can be found with patches of drifting seaweed. This species can reach a total length of 80 cm (31 in), with the greatest recorded weight for this species of 6.4 kg (14 lb). The color pattern consists of light and dark vertical bars from which it derives its name. The species feeds mainly on hard-shelled invertebrates such as crustaceans and molluscs. It is a commercially important species and is also farmed. It is also sought after as a game fish.[2]
Five striped beakfish, of which one remains in captivity, endured more than 2 years in the partially submerged hull of the Japanese boat Sai-shou-maru.[3][4]
References edit
- ^ Atlas of Exotic Fishes in the Mediterranean Sea (Oplegnathus fasciatus). 2nd Edition. 2021. 366p. CIESM Publishers, Paris, Monaco. https://ciesm.org/atlas/fishes_2nd_edition/Oplegnathus_fasciatus.pdf
- ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2014). "Oplegnathus fasciatus" in FishBase. February 2014 version.
- ^ Marcus Hondro (7 April 2013). "Japanese striped beakfish rides in skiff from tsunami to America". Digital Journal. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
- ^ "'Tsunami Fish'". Seaside Aquarium. Retrieved 11 April 2020.