Antarctic spiny plunderfish (Harpagifer antarcticus) fish species and information / pictures of Antarctic spiny plunderfish - Harpagifer antarcticus

Antarctic spiny plunderfish (Harpagifer antarcticus) fish species information

Scientific Name
Harpagifer antarcticus

Common Name
Antarctic spiny plunderfish

Biology
Depth range: 0-5 m on rocky bottoms. Usually under rocks; rarely under algal fronds. A specialized feeder on amphipods, mainly Gondogeneia antarctica. Iteroparous and devotes a lot of time to parental care (Ref. 5191). Feed on small crustaceans and common in littoral of all sub-Antarctic islands (Ref. 42041).

Classification

Classified By

Nybelin, 1947

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Spiny plunderfishes (Harpagiferidae)

Distribution

Region

Southern Ocean

Distribution

Southern Ocean: along the Atlantic coasts of the Antarctic Peninsula, South Shetland, South Orkney and South Sandwich islands.

Range

57°S - 67°S

Environment

Climate

Polar

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; demersal

Trophic Level

3.285 s.e. 0.53 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

9.5 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5010 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Unknown

Vulnerability

Low vulnerability (10 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Fec = 400)

Threat To Humans

  Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

  Not Evaluated