Pearly razorfish (original) (raw)

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Species of fish

Pearly razorfish
Xyrichtys novacula, a Mediterranean Sea specimen at the Civic Aquarium of Milan
Xyrichtys novacula in the Atlantic Ocean, Southeast U.S.
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Labriformes
Family: Labridae
Genus: Xyrichtys
Species: X. novacula
Binomial name
Xyrichtys novacula(Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms
See text

The pearly razorfish (Xyrichtys novacula), commonly known as cleaver wrasse, is a species of wrasse. It is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries and is popular as a game fish. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.[2]

Xyrichtys novacula can reach 38 cm (15 in) in total length, though most do not exceed 20 cm (7.9 in). Its body is elongate and very compressed laterally, the head is flattened, with a steep profile and sharp teeth. Its long dorsal fin extends along most of its back. It has 9 dorsal spines, 12 dorsal soft rays, 3 anal spines and 12 anal soft rays. This wrasse has a yellow-orange or reddish-pink color that is darker on the back and lighter on the belly, sometimes marked with green and gray stripes. Head shows vertical narrow light blue lines and there are scales with brisk reflexes on the abdomen. Upon capture, this fish has been known to turn its mouth and sharp protruding teeth past 90 degrees to either side in relationship to its own body as an attempt to be released from capture.[2]

Distribution and habitat

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The pearly razorfish is widespread throughout the western and eastern subtropical and tropical Atlantic Ocean, as well as the Mediterranean Sea. It inhabits clear, shallow littoral areas with sandy or muddy bottoms, at depths of 1 to 20 m. In winter it migrates to greater depths, up to 90–150 m.

Xyrichtys novacula buries itself rapidly in the bottom when disturbed. It feeds on small invertebrates such as crustaceans, mollusks and echinoderms.[2]

X. novaculae caught in Santorini, Greece

A large number of specific names have been determined to refer to this species as junior synonyms:[2]

Coryphaena novacula Linnaeus, 1758 Hemipteronotus novacula (Linnaeus, 1758) Novacula novacula (Linnaeus, 1758) Coryphaena psittacus Linnaeus, 1766 Hemipteronotus psittacus (Linnaeus, 1766) Xyrichthys psittacus (Linnaeus, 1766) Coryphaena lineata J. F. Gmelin, 1789 Novacula lineata (J. F. Gmelin, 1789) Coryphaena lineolata Rafinesque, 1810 Novacula lineolata (Rafinesque, 1810) Amorphocephalus granulatus S. Bowdich, 1825 Novacula coryphena A. Risso, 1827 Novacula coryphaena A. Risso, 1827 Xyrichthys uniocellatus Agassiz, 1831 Xyrichthys cultratus Valenciennes, 1840 Novacula cultrata (Valenciennes, 1840) Xyrichthys vitta Valenciennes, 1840 Xyrichthys vermiculatus Poey, 1860 Xyrichthys argentimaculata Steindachner, 1861 Xyrichthys rosipes D. S. Jordan & C. H. Gilbert, 1884 Xyrichthys jessiae D. S. Jordan, 1888 Hemipteronotus copei Fowler, 1900 Xyrichthys binghami Mowbray, 1925
  1. ^ Pollard, D.; Rocha, L.; Ferreira, C.E.; Francini-Filho, R.; Moura, R.R. (2010). "Xyrichtys novacula". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T187696A8603436. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T187696A8603436.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Xyrichtys novacula". FishBase. October 2013 version.