Pinecone fishes facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pinecone fishes
Pinecone fish, Monocentris japonica
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Beryciformes
Family:	Monocentridae
Genera
Cleidopus Monocentris See text for species.

Pinecone fishes are small and unusual fish of the family Monocentridae. The family contains just four species. They live in tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-Pacific. Pinecone fishes are popular in aquariums, but are expensive and a challenge for the hobbyist.

The pineapplefish, Cleidopus gloriamaris, is the largest species, reaching up to 30 centimetres (12 in) in length.

Monocentris japonica

Life history

Pinecone fishes live in ledges and caves, rocky and coral reefs over a hard bottom. Pinecone fishes are nocturnal.

Species

• Genus Cleidopus
  • Pineapplefish, Cleidopus gloriamaris De Vis, 1882.
• Genus Monocentris
  • Monocentris japonica (Houttuyn, 1782).
  • Monocentris neozelanicus (Powell, 1938).
  • Monocentris reedi Schultz, 1956.

See also

In Spanish: Monocentridae para niños