Silke Baron (flickr prilfish), Austria
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Soleichthys heterorhinos (Bleeker, 1856)
Soleichthys heterohinos is also known as Tiger Sole. Synonyms are: Aesopia heterohinos, Aesopia multifasciata, Parophrys nigrostriolata and several other variants of the aforementioned. Its distribution area extends over nearly the entire Indo-Pacific area, from India to Samoa and to the shores of Japan. South to New South Wales in Australia and the Marianas and Marshall Islands in Micronesia.
Soleichthys heterorhinos was described by Bleeker (1856) on the basis of three specimens from Ambon, Indonesia. The species name “heterorhinos” refers to the upright nostril of Soleichthys heterorhinos.
The special characteristics of the genus are the very long, tubular anterior nostril, the asymmetrical pectoral fins, the upper rays of which are connected to the gill cover membrane, and the caudal fin, which is only connected to the dorsal and anal rays at the base by a thin membrane.
Soleichthys heterorhinos is an elongated sole with numerous dark outlined stripes across the body, closely spaced eyes, a black band on the posterior dorsal, anal and caudal fins and a tubular nostril that is longer than the eyes.
Soleichthys heterorhinos is found in shallow, sheltered sandy areas of lagoons and reefs. The blue-edged sole buries itself in the sand, exposing only the eye and its tubular nostril. It moves extremely fast when disturbed and is difficult to spot when it settles back down.
Soleichthys heterorhinos is more active at night than during the day. The sole imitates whirlpool worms with undulating swimming movements.
Soleichthys heterorhinos exhibits biofluorescence, i.e. when illuminated with blue or ultraviolet light, it emits it as red and looks different than when illuminated with white light. Biofluorescence may support intra-species communication and camouflage.
Synonymised names
Aesopia heterohinos (Bleeker, 1856) · unaccepted (misspelling)
Aesopia heterorhina (Bleeker, 1856) · unaccepted
Aesopia heterorhinos (Bleeker, 1856) · unaccepted
Solea heterorhina Bleeker, 1856 · unaccepted (misspelling)
Solea heterorhinos Bleeker, 1856 · unaccepted
Solea heterorhinus Bleeker, 1856 · unaccepted (misspelling)
Solea lineata Ramsay, 1883 · unaccepted
Soleichthys heterohinos (Bleeker, 1856) · unaccepted (misspelling)
Soleichthys heterorhinus (Bleeker, 1856) · unaccepted > misspelling - incorrect subsequent spelling
Soleichthys heterohinos is also known as Tiger Sole. Synonyms are: Aesopia heterohinos, Aesopia multifasciata, Parophrys nigrostriolata and several other variants of the aforementioned. Its distribution area extends over nearly the entire Indo-Pacific area, from India to Samoa and to the shores of Japan. South to New South Wales in Australia and the Marianas and Marshall Islands in Micronesia.
Soleichthys heterorhinos was described by Bleeker (1856) on the basis of three specimens from Ambon, Indonesia. The species name “heterorhinos” refers to the upright nostril of Soleichthys heterorhinos.
The special characteristics of the genus are the very long, tubular anterior nostril, the asymmetrical pectoral fins, the upper rays of which are connected to the gill cover membrane, and the caudal fin, which is only connected to the dorsal and anal rays at the base by a thin membrane.
Soleichthys heterorhinos is an elongated sole with numerous dark outlined stripes across the body, closely spaced eyes, a black band on the posterior dorsal, anal and caudal fins and a tubular nostril that is longer than the eyes.
Soleichthys heterorhinos is found in shallow, sheltered sandy areas of lagoons and reefs. The blue-edged sole buries itself in the sand, exposing only the eye and its tubular nostril. It moves extremely fast when disturbed and is difficult to spot when it settles back down.
Soleichthys heterorhinos is more active at night than during the day. The sole imitates whirlpool worms with undulating swimming movements.
Soleichthys heterorhinos exhibits biofluorescence, i.e. when illuminated with blue or ultraviolet light, it emits it as red and looks different than when illuminated with white light. Biofluorescence may support intra-species communication and camouflage.
Synonymised names
Aesopia heterohinos (Bleeker, 1856) · unaccepted (misspelling)
Aesopia heterorhina (Bleeker, 1856) · unaccepted
Aesopia heterorhinos (Bleeker, 1856) · unaccepted
Solea heterorhina Bleeker, 1856 · unaccepted (misspelling)
Solea heterorhinos Bleeker, 1856 · unaccepted
Solea heterorhinus Bleeker, 1856 · unaccepted (misspelling)
Solea lineata Ramsay, 1883 · unaccepted
Soleichthys heterohinos (Bleeker, 1856) · unaccepted (misspelling)
Soleichthys heterorhinus (Bleeker, 1856) · unaccepted > misspelling - incorrect subsequent spelling
