Stripefin ronquil (Rathbunella hypoplecta)
Image source: Jeremy Jodoin | inaturalist.org
General data
- Main name: Stripefin ronquil
- Local names: Stripedfin ronquil, Blubanded ronquil
- Climates: Temperate
- Habitat: Saltwater
- Native: North America
- Distribution: Pacific Ocean
Classification
- Genus: Rathbunella - Rathbunella
- Family: Bathymasteridae - Ronquils
- Order: Scorpaeniformes - Mail-cheeked fishes
- Class: Actinopteri - Ray-finned fishes
- Superclass: Osteichthyes - Bony fishes
The stripedfin ronquil has an elongate body with a shape similar to that of a blenny. The overall color varies from olive brown to dull red, bluish black or purple with paler patches.
There is a horizontal blue stripe running along the whole of the anal fin. Males have a number of obvious blotches on their flanks; females are palre with darker blotches and spots on the upper body and pale bars on the lower flanks and have a blue spot on the front part of the dorsal fin. The long anal fin has no spines, 33 rays and is uniform in height along its whole length, the caudal fin is rounded and the dorsal fin contains 46 rays, the first 5 rays being simple and the rest are branched. The dorsal fin also has no spines and is uniform in height. The pectoral fins are large and rounded and pelvic fin are thoracic, having a single spine and 5 rays. The head and body are covered with small smooth scales. The lateral line is clearly visible, located high on the body and runs in a straight line.
This species has a maximum published total length of 16 cm (6.3 in).
The stripedfin ronquil is found in the eastern North Pacific Ocean where it is distributed from Santo Tomás, Baja California north to Point Conception in California.
This is a solitary, demersal fish found in exposed rocky areas in shalloiw coastal waters down to depths of 178 m (584 ft).
