Dichotomyctere ocellatus
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2022) |
| Dichotomyctere ocellatus | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Tetraodontiformes |
| Family: | Tetraodontidae |
| Genus: | Dichotomyctere |
| Species: | D. ocellatus
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| Binomial name | |
| Dichotomyctere ocellatus (Steindachner, 1870)
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| Synonyms | |
Dichotomyctere ocellatus (syn. Tetraodon biocellatus), commonly the figure 8 puffer or eyespot puffer, is a pufferfish found in freshwater[clarification needed] in Southeast Asia. It is known from the lower reaches of the Mekong (Cambodia), the Peninsular Malaysia as well as Borneo (Sarawak, Kalimantan).[1][3]
Characteristics[edit]
Figure 8 puffers grow to about 8 cm (3.1 in) total length (TL).[3] They are colourful fish, with greenish yellow patterns on their backs. These patterns vary greatly from fish to fish, but the markings either side of the caudal fin resemble the number eight, or eye-spots (earning the species another common name as "eyespot puffer"). Figure 8 puffers are relatively peaceful among Tetraodontidae, and have been kept successfully with other fish such as bumblebee gobies and mollies, but as with all pufferfish there is a risk that tankmates will not be tolerated.[citation needed]
Like all members of its family, the figure 8 puffer is capable of inflating itself with water or air when stressed or otherwise frightened.[citation needed]
In freshwater[edit]
 | This section may be too technical for most readers to understand. (June 2022) |
Like the closely related green pufferfish, the figure 8 exhibits euryhalinity, and undergoes epithelial remodeling and changes in the kidneys and gills when exposed to changes in salinity. Accordingly, the figure 8 puffer is often mistakenly regarded as an entirely freshwater fish, and has considerable resistance to freshwater exposure. In a marine environment, it exhibits typical saltwater fish morphological features in its gills, allowing it to secrete sodium chloride across the gill epithelium like a typical saltwater fish. However, acclimated to freshwater, the figure 8 puffer will exhibit specialized cells that do not match any gill ion-regulating cell of a freshwater fish. The other fish known to have these types of cells is the Mozambique tilapia (O. mossambicus).[4]
In the aquarium[edit]
In captivity, figure 8 puffers require a 15 US gallon tank with temperatures between 24 °C and 28 °C. They are sensitive to nitrites and nitrates and must be introduced into a fully cycled aquarium. Over-filtration is recommended as well as frequent partial water changes. Water pH will reflect the brackish environment to which these fish are best suited; the addition of marine salt will buffer the pH to a range between 7.8 and 8.3. With a salinity of between 1.005 and 1.008 specific gravity (S.G.), the lifespan of this species has been as long as 15 years.[5] As with all puffer fish, they require a complex aquarium set up consisting of many nooks and crannies. This helps figure 8 puffers to behave as they would in nature, and reduce boredom.[citation needed]
Diet[edit]
Pufferfish are classed as molluscivores and feed mainly on benthic organisms which may include mussels, cockles, oysters and krill, though some puffers will take other foods, such as flake, it is not recommended that their primary food is flake. Their teeth, a beak formed from two plates, are capable of crushing shells in order to feed on prey. In captivity many fishkeepers feed snails as a substitute for the aforementioned foods as snails help keep the beak trim; it would otherwise be susceptible to overgrowth.[citation needed]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Daniels, A. (2020). "Dichotomyctere ocellatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T91347926A91348008. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T91347926A91348008.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ Kottelat, M. (2013). The Fishes of the Inland Waters of Southeast Asia: A Catalogue and Core Bibliography of the Fishes Known to Occur in Freshwaters but lives sometime in brackish (aka mix of saltwater and freshwater) , Mangroves and Estuaries. The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 2013, Supplement No. 27: 1–663.
- ^ a b Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2017). "Dichotomyctere ocellatus" in FishBase. February 2017 version.
- ^ Duffy, N. M.; Bui, P.; Bagherie-lachidan, M.; Kelly, S. P. (2011). "Epithelial remodeling and claudin mRNA abundance in the gill and kidney of puffer fish (Tetraodon biocellatus) acclimated to altered environmental ion levels". Journal of Comparative Physiology B. 181 (2): 219–38. doi:10.1007/s00360-010-0517-3. PMID 20976602. S2CID 11392135.
- ^ The Puffer Forum, http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Brackish/T_Biocellatus/ Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved 25 July 2007)
Bibliography[edit]
Ebert, K. (2001), The Puffers of Fresh and Brackish Water, p 19. Aqualog, ISBN 3-931702-60-X.