Dr. Gerald (Gerry) Robert Allen, Australien
Info
Nexilosus latifrons is a sedentary reef fish classified as omnivorous, although the majority of its diet consists of plants.
Juveniles are dark brown with a blue stripe or spot on most scales, blue spots and lines on the head, and narrow blue edges on most fins.
However, in photos, these fish appear predominantly bluish.
Blue light penetrates deepest into the water, so the predominantly bluish coloration of young fish, as is common with reef perch, may have a protective function, as “blue in blue” is well camouflaged.
The color change of the animals during their development from juveniles to adults is interesting.
In semi-adult animals, the striking body stripe still appears distinctly yellowish, while in adult animals it is more orange.
In some specimens, the lower head area can sometimes be pink in color.
Kelp forests with the giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera play an important ecological role along the coast of Chile. In addition to their importance as a food source, protective structure, substrate, microhabitat, and nursery area, these habitats are influenced by regularly occurring natural disturbances (e.g., extreme climate fluctuations such as El Niño–Southern Oscillation) and the increasing use of kelp forests.
Nexilosus latifrons is also an important fish for scientists. In Chile, giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera was introduced into vegetation-free marine zones, and the following species were among the first to colonize the new kelp forests and quickly dominated these habitats: Scartichthys gigas/viridis, Chromis crusma, Cheilodactylus variegatus, and Isacia conceptionis.
We would like to thank Gerry Alen and Sylvain Le Bris for the first beautiful photos of Nexilosus latifrons.
Synonyms:
Nexilosus albemarleus Heller & Snodgrass, 1903 · unaccepted
Pomacentrus latifrons Tschudi, 1846 · unacceptedSynonyms:
Nexilosus albemarleus Heller & Snodgrass, 1903 · unaccepted
Pomacentrus latifrons Tschudi, 1846 · unaccepted
Juveniles are dark brown with a blue stripe or spot on most scales, blue spots and lines on the head, and narrow blue edges on most fins.
However, in photos, these fish appear predominantly bluish.
Blue light penetrates deepest into the water, so the predominantly bluish coloration of young fish, as is common with reef perch, may have a protective function, as “blue in blue” is well camouflaged.
The color change of the animals during their development from juveniles to adults is interesting.
In semi-adult animals, the striking body stripe still appears distinctly yellowish, while in adult animals it is more orange.
In some specimens, the lower head area can sometimes be pink in color.
Kelp forests with the giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera play an important ecological role along the coast of Chile. In addition to their importance as a food source, protective structure, substrate, microhabitat, and nursery area, these habitats are influenced by regularly occurring natural disturbances (e.g., extreme climate fluctuations such as El Niño–Southern Oscillation) and the increasing use of kelp forests.
Nexilosus latifrons is also an important fish for scientists. In Chile, giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera was introduced into vegetation-free marine zones, and the following species were among the first to colonize the new kelp forests and quickly dominated these habitats: Scartichthys gigas/viridis, Chromis crusma, Cheilodactylus variegatus, and Isacia conceptionis.
We would like to thank Gerry Alen and Sylvain Le Bris for the first beautiful photos of Nexilosus latifrons.
Synonyms:
Nexilosus albemarleus Heller & Snodgrass, 1903 · unaccepted
Pomacentrus latifrons Tschudi, 1846 · unacceptedSynonyms:
Nexilosus albemarleus Heller & Snodgrass, 1903 · unaccepted
Pomacentrus latifrons Tschudi, 1846 · unaccepted
