Cyprinodon brontotheroides

Cyprinodon brontotheroides is a species of pupfish in the genus Cyprinodon.

Cyprinodon brontotheroides
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cyprinodontiformes
Family: Cyprinodontidae
Genus: Cyprinodon
Species:
C. brontotheroides
Binomial name
Cyprinodon brontotheroides

Distribution and habitat edit

It is endemic to hypersaline interior lakes on San Salvador Island, Bahamas.

Ecology and taxonomy edit

It coexists alongside two other closely related Cyprinodon species C. desquamator and C. variegatus. Together, these three species represent a recent adaptive radiation, each having moved into a difference niche within their specialized environment. Each of these species are defined by distinct trophic adaptations that have affected various aspects of functional morphology.[2]

Description edit

Cyprinodon brontotheroides is durophagous. It has a large in-lever to out-lever ratio for closing its lower jaw with force and a protruding, reinforced nasal region probably used for crushing its specialized diet of ostracods and gastropods.[3] They breed in the spring and the breeding territories are guarded by the males.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ Lyons, T.J. (2021). "Cyprinodon brontotheroides". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T82958597A82962206. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T82958597A82962206.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ Martin, Christoper (11 January 2013). "Multiple Fitness Peaks on the Adaptive Landscape Drive Adaptive Radiation in the Wild". Science. 339 (6116): 208–211. Bibcode:2013Sci...339..208M. doi:10.1126/science.1227710. PMID 23307743. S2CID 25063734.
  3. ^ Martin, Christopher (2011). "Trophic novelty is linked to exceptional rates of morphological diversification in two adaptive radiations of Cyprinodon pupfish". Evolution. 65 (8): 2197–2212. doi:10.1111/j.1558-5646.2011.01294.x. PMID 21790569.
  4. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2019). "Cyprinodon brontotheroides" in FishBase. August 2019 version.