Pygmy shore-eel (Alabes parvula)

Scientific name: Alabes parvula McCulloch, 1909

The Pygmy shore-eel (Alabes parvula) is a marine fish of the family Gobiesocidae. Native range: Southwest Pacific, Australia and Norfolk Island.

Biology

Diagnosis: It differs from its congeners with its elongate transparent body. Gill slit small. Rudimentary pelvic fin absent. Postocular pore 1, anterior nasal and lacrymal pores present, posterior nasal pore absent. Vertebrae total 63-74, precaudal 17-19; last epineural on the 16th -20th vertebra. Caudal rays 4-6. Gut extension short. Tail length long. Dorsal origin over the anus. Male has its anterior part of the body with tiger-like pattern of irregular reddish-brown bars which are continued onto head and break into spots, it also continue posteriorly, and break into spots; the abdominal area is bright orange to yellow with 4 large bluish black circular to rectangular blotches, arranged in a horizontal line along lower side, extending over half distance to urogenital opening.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Alabes parvula
Family
Gobiesocidae (Clingfishes and singleslits)
Order
Gobiesociformes (Clingfishes)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
5.0
Depth range
3–6 m (10–20 ft)
Environment
Marine; demersal; depth range 3 - 6 m
Climate
Temperate
Distribution
Southwest Pacific: Australia and Norfolk Island.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Resilience
High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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