The White-streaked Grubfish, Black-barred Weever, Whitestreak Grubfish, Black-barred Weever, scientifically known as Parapercis stricticeps, is a fascinating fish species inhabiting a variety of marine environments.
Description & Characteristics
The Parapercis stricticeps is characterized by its distinctive white streaks and black bars, hence its common names. This fish can reach a maximum size of 18.0 cm. Its body is elongated, and it possesses a slightly flattened head and a prominent snout.
Habitat and Occurrence
Parapercis stricticeps is a versatile species, found in a wide range of habitats, including coastal waters, coral reefs, estuaries (river mouths), and rocky reefs. It prefers environments with gravel soils, rubble rocks, and sandy sea floors. This fish can be found in both brackish and seawater, typically inhabiting the subtidal, sublittoral, infralittoral, and deep zones of the oceans, extending from the lower limit of the intertidal zone to the shelf edge at about 200 m water depth. This makes Parapercis stricticeps a prominent inhabitant of the neritic marine zone.
Taxonomy
The species Parapercis stricticeps belongs to the Class: Teleostei, Order: Perciformes, and Family: Pinguipedidae. This classification places it among the bony fishes, a group known for their diverse array of forms and adaptations.
Feeding
Parapercis stricticeps is a carnivorous fish that feeds on a variety of invertebrates. Its diet includes amphipods, copepods, crabs, crustaceans, mysis, and shrimps, all of which are important components of the zoobenthos – the animal life found at the bottom of the ocean. Its predatory nature helps maintain the balance of its marine ecosystems.
Image References