Korean sand burrower (Limnichthys koreanus), a new creediid fish from tidal waters of Jeju Island

NEWS - Korean sand burrower (Limnichthys koreanus) was described based on the holotype and 11 paratypes from the subtidal waters of Seogwipo, Jeju Island, Korea, which was previously considered to be the anti-equatorial L. fasciatus in the Northern Hemisphere. Molecular analysis of mitochondrial COI and 16S genes found genetic divergence of 9.4% and 15.0% between the new species and the topotype specimen of L. fasciatus.

Creediidae consists of 8 genera with 18 species that are distributed globally and are mostly concentrated in subtropical and tropical coastal waters of the Indo-Pacific Ocean. These fish are known as sand burrowers, small, slender sand-dwelling fish that camouflage and hide in the uppermost layer of sand while waiting for prey.

Six species of Limnichthys are currently recognized as valid: L. fasciatus Waite (1904), L. marisrubri Fricke & Golani (2012), L. nitidus Smith (1958), L. orientalis Yoshino, Kon & Odabe (1999), L. polyactis Nelson (1978) and L. rendahli Parrott (1958). They show anti-equatorial distributions, except for L. nitidus which occurs in tropical to temperate waters of the Indo-Pacific Ocean.

Morphological and molecular comparisons of specimens from Korea in the Northern Hemisphere show that they differ from the topotype examples of L. fasciatus from southeastern Australia. Specimens of the new species were collected during a monitoring survey of subtropical fish species from the subtidal zone of Jeju Island, Korea.

L. koreanus differs from all other Limnichthys species by the following combination of coloration and morphological characteristics: 38-40 vertebrae, 0-6 dorsal saddles connecting the mid-lateral lines, small infraorbital sensory pores, one median interorbital pore, and well-developed vomerine teeth.

The researchers analyzed 12 specimens from 1-2 meters depth that were initially thought to be L. fasciatus. The new species has spots on the dorsal fin. The number of dorsal saddle patterns ranges from 5 to 9. Limnichthys species typically have 8 caudal fin segments, however, L. koreanus has 8-9 branched caudal fins.

The new species is only known from Jeju Island, Korea. They inhabit relatively thick sand (or possibly fine gravel) substrates, often hiding almost entirely in the sand in the subtidal zone. They dart out to catch prey and then return to their original position. Females have mature eggs in their gonads from June to August, 522 eggs per individual and 0.62-0.65 mm in diameter.

Original research

Lee Y-J, Kim J-K (2024). Limnichthys koreanus, a new species of creediid fish (Teleostei, Acropomatiformes, Creediidae) from Korea. ZooKeys 1214: 59-75, DOI:10.3897/zookeys.1214.128977

Dlium theDlium

Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) manufacture bubble-nets as tools to increase prey intake

NEWS - Humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) create bubble net tools while foraging, consisting of internal tangential rings, and actively control the number of rings, their size, depth and horizontal spacing between the surrounding bubbles. These structural elements of the net increase prey intake sevenfold. Researchers have known that humpback whales create “bubble nets” for hunting, but the new report shows that the animals also manipulate them in a variety of ways to maximize catches. The behavior places humpbacks among the rare animals that make and use their own tools. “Many animals use tools to help them find food, but very few actually make or modify these tools themselves,” said Lars Bejder, director of the Marine Mammal Research Program (MMRP), University of Hawaii at Manoa. “Humpback whales in southeast Alaska create elaborate bubble nets to catch krill. They skillfully blow bubbles in patterns that form a web with internal rings. They actively control details such ...

Devil's backbone (Euphorbia tithymaloides)

Pokok lipan or devil's-backbone or redbird flower or christmas candle or Pedilanthus tithymaloides ( Euphorbia tithymaloides ) are plant species in Euphorbiaceae, upright, evergreen, gummy shrubs, growing in tropical and subtropical regions. E. tithymaloides likes sandy soils especially with high concentrations of boron, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum and zinc. This bush grows to 2.4 m high and 61 cm wide. Simple angiosperm leaves, arranged opposite to the stem where each leaf is sessile with a length of 3.6-7.6 cm. The stem has the tip of a handle that supports a group of flowers that are not scented. Bifid crown and ovoid. The involucral bracts are bright red, irregular in shape and length from 1.1 to 1.3 mm. Hairy male and female pedicels. Seed pods are 7.6 mm long, 8.9 mm wide and ovate with clipped ends. Devil's-backbone generally blooms in mid-spring in the subtropical region and in the dry season in the tropics. Pollination is carried out by ants and birds. ...

Blue pansy (Junonia orithya)

Blue pansy ( Junonia orithya ) is an animal species in Nymphalidae, butterflies with at least 23 subspecies, have a variety of hues and colors including blue, black, brown and white, sex dimorphism, live in open areas and agricultural land, larvae grow at the end dry season or early rainy season. J. orithya has a black body with thick hair, a brown head, large white eyes, a pair of long white antennae with a hammer tip and white legs. Males have top front wings are dominated by black and whitish brown. Each side has two circles in brown, black and blue. Three stripes are brown and white. The hind wing is predominantly blue. Each side has two circles in brown, black, white and blue. The margins are bordered by white ribbons with black stripes. The rear wing is predominantly blue. Each side has two circles in brown, black, white and blue. Three stripes are brown and white. The margins are bordered by white ribbons with black stripes. The underside of the forewings is dominated by brow...

Dlium