#pineapplefish

Last photo by  Hectonichus, at the Monaco Aquarium.

AKA knightfish or coat-of-mail fish, due to the armour-like scales covering its body, and the port-and-starboard light fish after bioluminescent organs hidden at the corners of the mouth. The specific epithet is from the Latin for "glory of the sea". 

There are only four species in the family, the pinecone fish or Monocentridae, and the pineapplefish is the largest at 30cm.

Pineapplefish are native to coastal waters in Western Australia, New South Wales, and Queensland, where they may live under the same rocky ledge for the better part of a decade. They’re weak swimmers, and nocturnal, venturing out at night to feed on sandy flats. It’s possible they use their light organs to lure and illuminate small crustacean prey, but may also be using the light to communicate with other pineapplefish. 

Each week I plan to feature an amazing creature, admiring God's fantastic artistry. Hopefully it’ll brighten someone’s day to see something new and interesting if they haven’t seen it before. : )

Continuing with bright, sunny colors in our summer features! 🌅🏝️

(Beautifully captured by nature photographer, Hectonichus (CC BY-SA 3.0))

The Pineapplefish

A.K.A: The Mailfish, The Knightfish

Scientific Name: Cleidopus gloriamaris

Region: Reefs and harbors primarily along the eastern and western coasts of Australia

Size: Up to about 8.7" (~22cm) long

Cleidopus gloriamaris

Cleidopus either means key or clavicle, gloriamaris

Family: Monocentridae (Pinecone Fish)

Fun Fact: "On either side of the lower jaw is a light organ that produces a greenish glow. The colour of the light is reported to change to red as the fish ages." (Source)

Habitat: They are endemic to reefs of eastern and western Australia.

Pair of Pineapple Fish | Cleidopus gloriamaris

"Pineapple Fish has what appears to be a glowing smile due to the bioluminescent bacteria which inhabit the light organs found on the sides of the mouth. These symbiotic bacteria are responsible for its glow which is usually green, but occasionally red in older Pineapple Fish."  -