Hypoplectrus Explained

Hypoplectrus is a genus of fishes commonly known as hamlets, found mainly in coral reefs in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, particularly around Florida and the Bahamas. They are a popular choice for hobbyist saltwater aquariums, and come in a variety of colors.

Species

There are currently 17 recognized species in this genus:

• Hypoplectrus aberrans Poey, 1868 (Yellowbelly hamlet)
• Hypoplectrus atlahua Tavera & Acero P, 2013 (Jarocho hamlet) ^[1]
• Hypoplectrus castroaguirrei Del-Moral-Flores, J. L. Tello-Musi & J. A. Martínez-Pérez, 2012
• Hypoplectrus chlorurus G. Cuvier, 1828 (Yellowtail hamlet)
• Hypoplectrus ecosur Victor, 2012
• Hypoplectrus floridae Victor, 2012
• Hypoplectrus gemma Goode & T. H. Bean, 1882 (Blue hamlet)
• Hypoplectrus gummigutta Poey, 1851 (Golden hamlet)
• Hypoplectrus guttavarius Poey, 1852 (Shy hamlet)
• Hypoplectrus indigo Poey, 1851 (Indigo hamlet)
• Hypoplectrus maculiferus Poey, 1871
• Hypoplectrus maya Lobel, 2011 (Maya hamlet)
• Hypoplectrus nigricans Poey, 1852 (Black hamlet)
• Hypoplectrus providencianus Acero P & Garzón-Ferreira, 1994 (Masked hamlet)
• Hypoplectrus puella G. Cuvier, 1828 (Barred hamlet)
• Hypoplectrus randallorum Lobel, 2011 (Tan hamlet)
• Hypoplectrus unicolor Walbaum, 1792 (Butter hamlet)

Reproduction

Hamlets are simultaneous hermaphrodites (or synchronous hermaphrodites): They have both male and female sexual organs at the same time as an adult, meaning that they function as a male and female, making them one of the few vertebrates that are male and female at the same time. They seem quite at ease mating in front of divers, allowing observations in the wild to occur readily. They do not practice self-fertilization, but when they find a mate, the pair takes turns between which one acts as the male and which acts as the female through multiple matings, usually over the course of several nights. Hamlets preferentially mate with individuals of their same color pattern.^[2]

Notes and References

1. Tavera, J. & Acero P., A. (2013): Description of a new species of Hypoplectrus (Perciformes: Serranidae) from the Southern Gulf of Mexico. aqua, International Journal of Ichthyology, 19 (1): 29-38.
2. Bernal, M.A. . Rocha, L.A. . Speciation with Gene Flow in Coral Reef Fishes . In: Steller. D., Lobel. L., Eds. Diving for Science 2012. Proceedings of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences, 31st Symposium. . 2012 . https://archive.today/20131118021143/http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/10325 . usurped . November 18, 2013 .