Sweeper Physical Description Behaviour See Also External Link

Sweepers are small, tropical marine (occasionally brackish) perciform fish of the family Pempheridae. Found in the western Atlantic Ocean and Indo-Pacific region, the family contains approximately 26 species in two genera. One species (Pempheris xanthoptera ) is the target of subsistence fisheries in JapanJapan (, Nippon/Nihon literally "the origin of the sun") is a country in East Asia situated on a chain of islands east of the Asian continent on the western edge of the Pacific Ocean. The largest of these islands are, from north to south, Hokkaido , Honsh, where the fish is much enjoyed for its taste. Sweepers are occasionally kept in the marine aquariumMarine fish keeping is different from its counterpart, freshwater, in several important aspects. There’s more scientific bias in marine fish keeping, a large contributor to the vast scientific knowledge shared with the hobby. coral reef. Marine Fishkeepin.

1 Physical description

Deeply keeled, compressed bodies and large eyes typify sweepers, their form somehwat like hatchetfishThe name hatchetfish may refer to two unrelated groups of fishes: Marine hatchetfishes small deep-sea bioluminescent fishes ( Stomiiformes) of the family Sternoptychidae, subfamily Sternoptychinae. Freshwater hatchetfishes tropical characins of the large; both cycloid and and ctenoid scaleIn most biological nomenclature, a scale ( Greek lepid is a small rigid plate that grows out of an animal's skin to provide protection. In lepidopteran species, scales are plates on the surface of the insect wing, and provide coloration. Scales are quites may be present. The small, short dorsal finDorsal Fin of the Orca A dorsal fin is a fin located on the backs of fishes, whales, dolphins and porpoises. Its main purpose is to stabilise the animal against rolling and assist in sudden turns. Some animals have developed dorsal fins with protective fu begins before the the body's midpoint and may have 4-7 spines; the anal fin is extensive and usually has 3 spines. The mouth is subterminal and strongly oblique. Species of the genus Parapriacanthus have much more cylindrical bodies.

Some species possess photophoreA photophore is a light-emitting organ which appears as luminous spots on various marine fishes. The organ can be simple, or as complex as the human eye; eqipped with lenses, shutters, color filters and reflectors. The light can be produced from compoundss. All but the Curved Sweeper (Pempheris poeyi) possess a gas bladder. The largest species is the Common Bullseye (Pempheris multiradiata) at 28 centimetres in length; most other species measure 16 centimetres or less. Coloration is relatively subdued.

2 Behaviour

Characteristically shallow water, schooling fish (especially as juveniles), sweepers are nocturnal and seek shelter under ledges or in the caves, nooks and crannies of reefs or eroded, rocky shorelines during the day. They are often found sharing these hiding places with cardinalfish es and bigeye s, fellow nightowls. At night, sweepers forage for zooplankton, their primary food items.

At least one species, the Small-scale Bullseye (Pempheris compressa) of Australia, is known to enter coastal estuaries whilst young.

3 See also

4 External link

FishBase: Pempheridae

Fish

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