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Micropterus
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Micropterus is a genus of freshwater fish in the sunfish family (family Centrarchidae) of order Perciformes. The species of this genus are known as the black basses.
The black basses are sometimes erroneously called black trout, but the name trout more correctly refers to certain members of the salmon family.
The black basses are distributed throughout a large area east of the Rocky Mountains in North America, from the Hudson Bay basin in Canada to northeastern Mexico. Several species, notably the Largemouth and Smallmouth basses, have been very widely introduced throughout the world, and are now considered cosmopolitan. Black bass of all species are highly sought-after game fish, and bass fishing is an extremely popular sport throughout the bass's native range.[citation needed] These fish are well known as strong fighters, and their meat is eaten, being quite edible and firm.
All Micropterus species have a dull-green base colouring with dark patterns on the sides. Most reach a maximum overall length of 40–60 cm (16–24 in), but some strains of the largemouth bass have been reported to grow to almost a full meter (just over three feet) in length.[1]
The male builds a "bed" (nest) in which a female is induced to deposit her eggs and then fertilizes them. The male continues to guard the eggs and fry until they disperse from the nest.
In Japan, to which the black basses are not native, frequent attempts have been made to eradicate various species of the fish.[2]
Species[edit]
There are currently 14 recognized species in this genus:
- Micropterus cahabae W. H. Baker, Blanton & C. E. Johnston, 2013 (Cahaba bass) [3]
- Micropterus cataractae J. D. Williams & G. H. Burgess, 1999 (Shoal bass)
- Micropterus chattahoochae W. H. Baker, Blanton & C. E. Johnston, 2013 (Chattahoochee bass) [3]
- Micropterus coosae C. L. Hubbs & R. M. Bailey, 1940 (Redeye bass)
- Micropterus dolomieu Lacépède, 1802 (Smallmouth bass)
- Micropterus floridanus Lesueur, 1822
- Micropterus haiaka Tringali, Barthel, Seyoum & Knight, 2013 (Choctaw bass) [4]
- Micropterus henshalli C. L. Hubbs & R. M. Bailey, 1940 (Alabama bass)
- Micropterus notius R. M. Bailey & C. L. Hubbs, 1949 (Suwannee bass)
- Micropterus punctulatus Rafinesque, 1819 (Spotted bass)
- Micropterus salmoides Lacépède, 1802 (Largemouth black bass)
- Micropterus tallapoosae W. H. Baker, Blanton & C. E. Johnston, 2013 (Tallapoosa bass) [3]
- Micropterus treculii Vaillant & Bocourt, 1874 (Guadalupe bass)
- Micropterus warriorensis W. H. Baker, Blanton & C. E. Johnston, 2013 (Warrior bass) [3]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Rohde, F.C., Arndt, R.G., Lindquist, D.G. & Parnell, J.F. (1996): Freshwater Fishes of the Carolinas, Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1994.
- ^ "Locals in for long haul in battle against non-native fish". Asahi Shimbun. 6 July 2007. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
- ^ a b c d Baker, W.H., Blanton, R.E. & Johnston, C.E. (2013): Diversity within the Redeye Bass, Micropterus coosae (Perciformes: Centrarchidae) species group, with descriptions of four new species. Zootaxa, 3635 (4): 379–401.
- ^ Tringali, M.D., Barthel, B., Seyoum, S., & Knight, J. (2013): Molecular and Morphological Evidence for a Novel Black bass Species Native to Rivers of the East Gulf Coastal Plain . Proceedings of the Symposium Black Bass Diversity: Multidisciplinary Science for Conservation, Nashville, American Fisheries Society 143rd Annual Meeting.
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Unfortunately, there is little information on the mating system of M. grayi. However, it is very likely that M. grayi follows similar patterns to other toothed whales (Odontoceti). M. grayi, like other toothed whales, does not show as distinct a seasonality in mating and birth as do the baleen whales; this is primarily due to the relatively warmer waters the toothed whales inhabit. Toothed whales live in small groups with very large ranges of thousands of square miles. It may be difficult for individuals to meet others of the opposite sex, so when they do, it is essential that the right signals are conveyed. Toothed whales are very social, and when pods meet there are physical changes in the female’s body to indicate to potential mates that she is ready. Though these exact signals are unknown, it is likely that a combination of both behavioral dance-like movements and hormones discharged through feces or urine serve as cues.
The courtship and mating rituals usually involve belly contact between the male and female. The pair may be interlocked vertically, or the male may swim upside-down underneath the female. There is also much play in the form of chases, breaching of the surface, and flipper contact. All these behavioral cues convey the readiness to mate.
Detailed information on the reproductive behavior of M. grayi is unavailable. The mother most likely give birth to a single calf. Gray’s beaked whales, like many whales, are most often seen in pods and highly social behavior has been observed. Often in these groups, females that don't have offspring of their own assist other females in the pod raise their calves. A calf likely remains by its mother’s side until it reaches maturity.
Although toothed whales occupying warm oceanic waters can breed throught the year, most breeding in the southern hemisphere is probably between October and December, and the young are born between February and March. Breeding grounds for similar species are often in shallower waters that are sheltered by bays or inlets. Seasonal movements from winter mating grounds to summer feeding grounds are common for other species but not confirmed for M. grayi.
Breeding interval: Unknown; Probably one calf per year.
Breeding season: Unknown; Probably between October and December
Average number of offspring: 1.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; viviparous
All cetacean species follow a similar pattern for parental investment. The mother nurses the young; she and the pod family teach newborn calves how to socialize, how to avoid preadators, and how to hunt. Specific information on M. grayi is unavailable.
Parental Investment: no parental involvement; precocial ; female parental care ; pre-fertilization (Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-independence (Protecting: Female); extended period of juvenile learning
- Evans, P. 1987. The Natural History of Whales & Dolphins. New York, New York USA: Facts on File, Inc.
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Bass /ˈbæs/ is a name shared by many different species of fish. The term encompasses both freshwater and marine species. All belonging to the large order Perciformes, or perch-like fishes, and in fact the word bass comes from Middle English bars, meaning "perch."[1]
Types of bass[edit]
- The Black basses, such as the Choctaw bass (M. haiaka), Guadalupe bass (M. treculii), largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), smallmouth bass (M. dolomieu), and spotted bass (M. punctulatus), belong to the sunfish family, Centrarchidae.
- The Temperate basses, such as the European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax), striped bass (Morone saxatilis) and white bass (M. chrysops), belong to the family Moronidae.
- The Asian seabasses, such as the Japanese seabass (Lateolabrax japonicus) and Blackfin seabass (Lateolabrax latus), belong to the family Lateolabracidae.
Other species known as bass[edit]
- For other fish called "bass", see Sea bass.
Many species are also known as basses,[2] including:
- The Australian bass, Macquaria novemaculeata, is a member of the temperate perch family, Percichthyidae.
- The black sea bass, Centropristis striata, is a member of the sea bass and sea grouper family, Serranidae.
- The Chilean sea bass, Dissostichus eleginoides, more commonly known as the Patagonian toothfish, is a member of the cod icefish family, Nototheniidae.
- The giant sea bass Stereolepis gigas, also known as the black sea bass, is a member of the wreckfish family, Polyprionidae.
- The "lanternbellies" or "temperate ocean-basses" - the family Acropomatidae.
References[edit]
- ^ "Bass1". American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition.
- ^ "List of Common Names with bass". FishBase. Retrieved 6 June 2006.
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Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) Stats
Specimen Records:44
Specimens with Sequences:38
Specimens with Barcodes:38
Species:8
Species With Barcodes:7
Public Records:38
Public Species:7
Public BINs:8
The general distribution of Gray's beaked whales, Mesoplodon grayi , is in the oceans of the southern hemisphere, south of 30 degrees latitude. Original sightings were off the coast of New Zealand and Eastern Australia east to Argentina and Chile. However, recent sightings near South Africa, north to Madagascar, and in the Indian Ocean east to Australia confirm its circumpolar home range. There has been one confirmed live animal sighting in the northern hemisphere, off the coast of The Netherlands, but there have been no other indications of a North Atlantic population (IUCN, 1991). Though there are nineteen species in the Family Ziphiidae (Beaked Whales), they are rarely seen and poorly studied. There is no reliable information on migratory habits, if any, of this species.
Biogeographic Regions: indian ocean (Native ); atlantic ocean (Native ); pacific ocean (Native )
- Evans, P. 1987. The Natural History of Whales & Dolphins. New York, New York USA: Facts on File, Inc.
- Klinowska, M., J. Cooke. 1991. Dolphins, Porpoises, and Whales of the World. Switzerland and Cambridge, U.K.: IUCN The World Conservation Union.
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Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Mesoplodon_grayi/ |
Stranding Distribution
There are abundant records from the cold temperate waters of the southern oceans between 30oS and 45o S. The bulk of the records are from the South Pacific shores of Australia and New Zealand. There is one extralimital record from the Netherlands.
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Source | http://vertebrates.si.edu/mammals/beaked_whales/pages/mgr/mgr_map_pg1.htm |
M. grayi is protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. These laws are a strict guideline protecting marine mammals and their habitats. For M. grayi in particular, there is not enough information to determine its appropriate conservation status. Original sightings were so rare that the animals were thought to be close to extinction, but the increasing number of reliable sightings suggests there is a larger, more stable population than believed.
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: no special status
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Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Mesoplodon_grayi/ |
Gray’s Beaked whales, like all members of Ziphiidae, are medium sized whales with a distinct beak. They are 5.0 to 6.0 m in length and weigh around 5 tons (10,000 pounds). M. grayi is distinct from all other beaked whales (except for Tasmacetus shepherdi) in that it does not lack upper teeth; rather, it has a row of 17 to 22 teeth lining each side of the upper jaw.
The coloration pattern of M. grayi is similar to other beaked whales, with dark brown to gray on the back and flanks, and light gray to white on the underside. The beak is characteristically white or light colored with white flecks extending to the throat. There are also conspicuous white markings around the navel, genitals, and anal regions.
One of the most conspicuous features of members of the genus Mesoplodon is the single pair of enlarged triangular tusks in the lower jaw. The location of these tusks is set farther back in the mouth than in other beaked whales. The exact function of these tusks is unknown, but the pattern of scarring on the head and body of examined individuals indicates that fighting may occur, most likely for mates . Some Mesoplodon have a hardened bone in their skulls, acting like a shield while fighting. These tusks were originally thought to erupt only in males. However, more recent information shows that the tusks erupt in both sexes. Beached females with erupting tusks, have been discovered recently with high frequency.
Average mass: 5000 kg.
Range length: 5.5 to 6.0 m.
Sexual Dimorphism: sexes alike; ornamentation
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry
- MacLeod, C. 2000. Species recognition as a possible function for variations in position and shape of the sexually dimorphic tusks of Mesoplodon whales. Evolution, 56/6: 2171-2173.
- MacLeod, C. 2002. Possible functions of the ultradense bone in the rostrum of Blainville's beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris). Canadian Journal of Zoology, 80:1: 178-184.
- Culik, B. 2002. "Mesoplodon grayi" (On-line). Convention on Migratory Species (CMS). Accessed August 08, 2004 at http://www.cms.int/reports/small_cetaceans/data/m_grayi/m_grayi.htm.
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There are no known adverse affects of M. grayi on humans.
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Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Mesoplodon_grayi/ |