#pineapplefish

[ash3]

Um... Cleidopus gloriamaris

[drhoz]

#1569 - Cleidopus gloriamaris - Pineapple Fish

Last photo by  Hectonichus, at the Monaco Aquarium.

AKA knightfish or coat-of-mail fish, due to the armour-like scales covering its body, and the port-and-starboard light fish after bioluminescent organs hidden at the corners of the mouth. The specific epithet is from the Latin for "glory of the sea". 

There are only four species in the family, the pinecone fish or Monocentridae, and the pineapplefish is the largest at 30cm.

Pineapplefish are native to coastal waters in Western Australia, New South Wales, and Queensland, where they may live under the same rocky ledge for the better part of a decade. They’re weak swimmers, and nocturnal, venturing out at night to feed on sandy flats. It’s possible they use their light organs to lure and illuminate small crustacean prey, but may also be using the light to communicate with other pineapplefish. 

They do quite well in captivity, as long as they’re given rocky overhangs and live prey, and can live for 10 years. 

[thecreatureawaits]

Creature Awaits #216

Each week I plan to feature an amazing creature, admiring God's fantastic artistry. Hopefully it’ll brighten someone’s day to see something new and interesting if they haven’t seen it before. : )

Continuing with bright, sunny colors in our summer features! 🌅🏝️

(Beautifully captured by nature photographer, Hectonichus (CC BY-SA 3.0))

The Pineapplefish

A.K.A: The Mailfish, The Knightfish

Scientific Name: Cleidopus gloriamaris

Region: Reefs and harbors primarily along the eastern and western coasts of Australia

Size: Up to about 8.7" (~22cm) long

Interesting Notes: Though it's a bit hard to see in the above photograph, the reddish spot under the eye is actually home to a bright bioluminescent, symbiotic bacteria that helps its host by emitting a bright red light that attracts prey at night.

[the-abyssopelagic]

a pineapplefish (Cleidopus gloriamaris)

[collectiveofanimals]

Pineapplefish

Cleidopus gloriamaris

Cleidopus either means key or clavicle, gloriamaris

Family: Monocentridae (Pinecone Fish)

Fun Fact: "On either side of the lower jaw is a light organ that produces a greenish glow. The colour of the light is reported to change to red as the fish ages." (Source)

Habitat: They are endemic to reefs of eastern and western Australia.

Ecosystem Role: They attract their prey with their green symbiotic bacteria that produce bioluminescence. They probably provide food for larger fish.

[collectiveofanimals]

Pineapple Fish (Cleidopus gloriamaris) by Mick’s wet on Flickr.

[anhuri]

Catch Of The Day

[fuckyeahaquaria]

Pair of Pineapple Fish | Cleidopus gloriamaris

"Pineapple Fish has what appears to be a glowing smile due to the bioluminescent bacteria which inhabit the light organs found on the sides of the mouth. These symbiotic bacteria are responsible for its glow which is usually green, but occasionally red in older Pineapple Fish."  -

(Photo by Mick’s Wet)