Opal Eye
Classifcation
Phylum:
Cordata
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
-
spinal
cord
-
internal
skeleton
-
complete
digestive system
-
and
various arrangements of fins to control movements
Class:
Actinopterygii
(ray-finned fishes)
Order:
Perciformes
-
Perch-like
-
Largest
order of fishes
-
Occurs
in marine, freshwater and brackish
-
156
Families
Family:
Kyphosidae
Subfamiliy
Girellinae: Nibblers found only in Pacific
-
Small
mouth
-
Blunt
head
-
Indented
caudal fin
-
Oval
body
-
Continuous
dorsal fin.
-
Cutting
teeth (like incisors) usually in one main row
-
Round
tip and long curved base
-
Dorsal
fin has 9-16 spines
-
11-28
soft rays
-
Congregate
in large number for pelagic spawning
-
Genus
& Species: Girella nigricans
-
Also
known as Opal Eye
because
of opalescent eye color
-
Also Known as
Button Perch from presence of one or two white spots near center
of back at base of dorsal fin.
