Frogfish and Dragonets Codexery

Porophryne

A monospecific frogfish genus endemic to New South Wales waters.

Last updated

Porophryne is a genus of anglerfish first proposed in 2014 by Rachel J. Arnold, Robert Geoffrey Harcourt and Theodore Wells Pietsch III.[1] The genus contains the single species Porophryne erythrodactylus, known only from scattered localities between Sydney Harbour and Jervis Bay, New South Wales.[2][3]

Scientific classification

  1. KingdomAnimalia
  2. PhylumChordata
  3. ClassActinopterygii
  4. DivisionTeleostei
  5. OrderLophiiformes
  6. FamilyAntennariidae
  7. GenusPorophryne
  8. SpeciesPorophryne erythrodactylus

Named by R. J. Arnold, R. G. Harcourt & Pietsch, 2014

Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Porophryne (CC BY-SA 4.0) · differs from this box at family: WoRMS AphiaID 835161 (CC BY 4.0)

How big is it?

Size comparison: Porophryne and a personA 0.07 m long porophryne drawn to scale next to a 1.8 m tall person. Schematic shapes, not a likeness.0.07 m1.8 m

Largest length in the source, 0.07 m, next to a 1.8 m person.

Diagram: drawn by Codexery, schematic shapes to scale (not a likeness). Length: Wikipedia: Porophryne

Where the porophryne has been recorded

Where the porophryne has been recorded2 mapped locations from 354 GBIF occurrence records; marked places: Botany Bay, Kurnell, Port Jackson, Jervis BayBotany BayKurnellPort JacksonJervis Bay

Each dot is a place where the species has been observed and reported (354 records, half-degree grid) — not a modelled range.

Map: drawn by Codexery. Data: GBIF occurrence search (records CC0 / CC BY) · Natural Earth basemap (public domain) · place coordinates: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Quick Facts

Type species
Porophryne erythrodactylus
Described by
  • Rachel J. Arnold
  • Robert Geoffrey Harcourt
  • Theodore Wells Pietsch III
Year described
2014
Maximum standard length
7.4 cm (2.9 in)
Type locality
  • New South Wales
  • Botany Bay
  • Kurnell
Sister genus
Kuiterichthys
Endemic to
waters off New South Wales, eastern Australia

Facts from the source article.

Biology and range

The fish has two distinct colour phases: one grey with scattered black spots, and another orange, red, pink, or white, or a combination of these colours.[4][5] The genus name Porophryne combines poro, meaning "having pores", alluding to the black spots that resemble sponge oscula, with phryne, meaning "toad"[6][7] The fish is typically found in rocky-reef habitats below the low tide mark, dominated by leafy and filamentous seaweed.[3] The fish has been observed at depths ranging from 6 m to 24 m.[3][2]

The greatest documented standard length for Porophryne erythrodactylus is 7.4 cm.[4] "Erythrodactylus" translates to "red fingers", a name chosen because the tips of the fin rays display a red hue.[6][7] After laying eggs, Porophryne guards them, as it is an oviparous species.[8] The location where the type specimen was collected is Kurnell, in Botany Bay, New South Wales.[9][7]

What the specialist sources record

The Fishes of Australia account states the genus Porophryne is from the Greek poro, meaning "to bear pores", in allusion to the naked, black, "osculum-like" spots on the head and body.[7] The Australian Museum notes the Red-fingered Anglerfish has bumpy skin that resembles the sponges among which it is often found.[2] The same source states the illicium is as long as the second dorsal spine.[10] The Guardian article by Quentin Wheeler notes Porophryne most closely resembles Kuiterichthys but is distinct in several ways including red pigmentation along the distal margins of its fins.[5]

The World Register of Marine Species classifies Porophryne erythrodactylus in the family Histiophrynidae, order Lophiiformes.[11] GBIF holds 362 occurrence records for this taxon.[12] According to frogfish.ch, the esca is big, oval, and features two clusters of short filaments.[10]

References

  1. Wikipedia, "Porophryne" (CC BY-SA 4.0) en.wikipedia.org
  2. "Red-fingered Anglerfish, Porophryne erythrodactylus Arnold, Harcourt & Pietsch, 2014", Australian Museum, 19 April 2021. facts only, no text reused. australian.museum
  3. Wikipedia, "Porophryne" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Bray, D.J., "Porophryne erythrodactylus", Fishes of Australia, 2023; "Red-fingered Anglerfish, Porophryne erythrodactylus Arnold, Harcourt & Pietsch, 2014", Australian Museum, 19 April 2021 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  4. Wikipedia, "Porophryne" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Porophryne erythrodactylus Bare Island Anglerfish (Red-footed Frogfish, Sydney Frogfish)", www.frogfish.ch; Bray, D.J., "Porophryne erythrodactylus", Fishes of Australia, 2023; (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  5. Quentin Wheeler, "New to nature No 141: Porophryne erythrodactylus", the Guardian, 17 May 2015. facts only, no text reused. theguardian.com
  6. Wikipedia, "Porophryne" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Christopher Scharpf, "Order LOPHIIFORMES (part 1): Families LOPHIIDAE, ANTENNARIIDAE, TETRABRACHIIDAE, LOPHICHTHYIDAE, BRACHIONICHTHYIDAE, CHAUNACIDAE and OGCOCEPHALIDAE", The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  7. Bray, D.J., "Porophryne erythrodactylus", Fishes of Australia, 2023. facts only, no text reused. fishesofaustralia.net.au
  8. Wikipedia, "Porophryne" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Bray, D.J., "Porophryne erythrodactylus", Fishes of Australia, 2023 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  9. Wikipedia, "Porophryne" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Red-fingered Anglerfish, Porophryne erythrodactylus Arnold, Harcourt & Pietsch, 2014", Australian Museum, 19 April 2021; (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  10. "Porophryne erythrodactylus Bare Island Anglerfish (Red-footed Frogfish, Sydney Frogfish)", www.frogfish.ch. facts only, no text reused. frogfish.ch
  11. World Register of Marine Species, Porophryne erythrodactylus (AphiaID 835161). CC BY 4.0. marinespecies.org
  12. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy and occurrence index, Porophryne erythrodactylus (taxon key 7363887). CC BY 4.0 (backbone); counts are facts. gbif.org

Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Porophryne (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.

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Test yourself

Three questions drawn from this entry’s sources. Pick an answer to check it.

1. To which biological order does the Porophryne belong?

Correct.

Not quite. The answer is Lophiiformes.

2. In what year was Porophryne first scientifically described?

Correct.

Not quite. The answer is 2014.

3. Who first scientifically described the Porophryne?

Correct.

Not quite. The answer is Theodore Wells Pietsch III.

Answers checked against the source article

Sources

Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.

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