Valenciennellus tripunctulatus explained

Valenciennellus tripunctulatus, commonly called the constellationfish,^[1] is a species of fish in the family Sternoptychidae (hatchetfish).^{[2] [3] [4]}

Description

Valenciennellus tripunctulatus is small, growing no longer than .^[5] It darkens its body at night by pigment dispersion. It is silvery-white in colour with several black spots; the name tripunctulatus ("three-spotted") refers to the larger spots on their ventral surface, although there are often more than three of these.^[6]

Habitat

Valenciennellus tripunctulatus lives all the world's non-polar oceans. It is bathypelagic and non-migratory, living at depths of .^{[5] [7]}

Behaviour

Valenciennellus tripunctulatus is a selective daytime feeder on copepods (mainly Pleuromamma) and ostracods (such as Conchoecia).^[8]

It breeds year-round, with egg batches about 100–360 eggs per ovary pair, the number increasing with animal size.^[5] It does not guard its eggs.^[9]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Valenciennellus tripunctulatus. fishesofaustralia.net.au.
2. Web site: Research Report. June 22, 1946. U.S. Government Printing Office. Google Books.
3. Web site: Fishery Bulletin. June 22, 1989. National Marine Fisheries Service. Google Books.
4. Web site: Distribution of Ichthyoplankton Around Southeast Hancock Seamount, Central North Pacific, in Summer 1984 and Winter 1985: Data Report. George W.. Boehlert. June 22, 1992. Google Books.
5. Web site: Valenciennellus tripunctulatus, Constellationfish. www.fishbase.se.
6. https://books.google.com/books?id=cydAAQAAMAAJ&q=tripunctulatus&pg=PA578 Bulletin of the United States National Museum
7. Book: Soft-rayed Bony Fishes: Orders Isospondyli and Giganturoidei: Part 4. Henry B.. Bigelow. Daniel M.. Cohen. Myvanwy M.. Dick. Robert H. Gibbs. Jr. Marion. Grey. James E. Morrow. Jr. Leonard P.. Schultz. Vladimir. Walters. October 23, 2018. Yale University Press. 9781933789149 . Google Books.
8. Book: Oceanic Sound Scattering Prediction. Neil R.. Andersen. Bernard J.. Zahuranec. June 22, 1977. Springer. 9780306355059 . Google Books.
9. Web site: WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Valenciennellus tripunctulatus (Esmark, 1871). www.marinespecies.org.