Smilosicyopus leprurus (Teleostei: Gobiidae) is a Fin-eater

• Published in: Zoological Studies Vol. 55; pp. 1 - 7-031
• Main Authors: Lu, Ying-Tzu, Liu, Min-Yun, He, You, Liao, Te-Yu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: China (Republic : 1949- ) 中央研究院生物多樣性研究中心 01.01.2016; Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica
• Subjects: Sicyopterus japonicas; Sicyopus zosterophorum; Pterygophagy; DNA barcoding; Dentition
• ISSN: 1021-5506; 1810-522X
• DOI: 10.6620/ZS.2016.55-31

is a small goby distributed in the Ishigaki Island and Taiwan. Hobbyists found attacked on the caudal fin of fishes kept together. In this study we investigate whether this fin-eating behavior occurs in the field and whether can be considered a fin-eater. Behavior observation in a tank showed snapped off a piece of fins and swallowed. Among preserved immediately after capture, a fin fragment and a few scales were recovered in the gut of a specimen and DNA barcoding shows the fin fragment belonging to . The fin-eating behavior of occurs in captivity and in the wild. In addition, the 3D renderings of oral jaws of were provided. Oral teeth are numerous and arranged in close proximity to each other all together like a bladed dentition, which may provide the capability to shear the fin of its prey. The present study shows a fin-eater despite not feeding exclusively on fins.