Rathbunella

Rathbunella hypoplecta

Rathbunella is only two types of species of bottom-dwelling marine fish of which occurs at the North American Pacific coast from San Francisco Bay to Baja California. The genus was named after Richard Rathbun (1852-1918), a scientist who worked for the U.S. Fish Commission and later for the U.S. National Museum.

Features

The two Rathbunella species are a maximum of 16 or 21 cm long and are brownish striped or purple. Your body is elongate, cylindrical front and in the rear portion laterally flattened. The head is of medium size, rounded in Profif and scaly on the " cheeks " and the upper portion of the gill cover. The eyes are near the top and are directed to the side. The mouth is slightly upward. Premaxilla and lower jaw are covered with several rows of conical teeth, as well as the palate. The teeth of the outer rows can be greater. Males can have two pairs of enlarged teeth. The gill rakers are short and thick and covered with small tooth plates. Dorsal and anal fins are long and are supported only by soft rays, rounded tail fin.

• Dandruff formula: SL 72-88.

Way of life

Rathbunella species living on sandy or rocky areas, feed on invertebrates; mainly of crustaceans and nudibranchs. The nest, which may include up to 10,000 eggs is guarded by the male until hatching of the larvae.

Species

• Rathbunella alleni Gilbert, 1904
• Rathbunella hypoplecta ( Gilbert, 1890) ( type species )