TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia (animals)
Phylum: Chordata (chordates)
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Beryciformes (Sawbellies)
Family: Monocentridae (Pinecone fishes)

Genus/species: Monocentris japonica

 

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Body except for caudal peduncle armored with huge, immovable scales. Body yellow, scales outlined in black; lower jaw black. Length to 17 cm (6.7 inches).

 PineconeFish14809348647_ca6e4f130d_k

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Indo-Pacific. Tropical marine found in schools in clear water above rocky bottom near reefs. Depth range 10 – 200 m (33-660 feet).

PineconeFish14996127685_785385956b_k

 

DIET IN THE WILD: Feeds at night on small invertebrates and zooplankton

 CONSERVATION: IUCN 2006 red list of threatened species

 REMARKS: By moving its jaw M. japonica  exposes a bioluminescence producing organ with pure culture of luminous bacteria which emit light.

 Location: Dark Cluster

 References

 eol eol.org/pages/214300/details

 fishbase www.fishbase.org/summary/Monocentris-japonica.html

 Ron’s flickr www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/14809348647/

Ron’s WordPress shortlink  http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-1kC