Drepanidae
EOL Text
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) Stats
Specimen Records:58
Specimens with Sequences:42
Specimens with Barcodes:42
Species:3
Species With Barcodes:2
Public Records:25
Public Species:2
Public BINs:3
Perciforms, or perch-like fish, can be considered the dominant vertebrates in the world’s oceans.(1) This not-clearly-delimited taxonomic group (2,3) forms the largest order of fish,(1,2,4,5) and indeed the largest order of vertebrates;(1,4) with over 10,000 species,(1,2,3,4) ranging from Arctic to Antarctic waters,(2,3) the perciforms comprise at least a third of all fish species.(2,4) While perciforms live in a variety of habitats, from freshwater rivers, lakes, and ponds(2,3,4,5) to the far depths of the oceans,(2,3,4) the greatest array of species can be found in marine environments close to shores,(3,5) especially in coral reefs.(4) They vary widely in size (anywhere from 1.2 centimeters to 3.3 meters long), shape, color, feeding behavior, and breeding and migration behavior.(3) In fact, this order of fish is so diverse that the families contained within it may not even all stem from a common evolutionary ancestor.(2,3,5) Still, there are some important characteristics that most perciforms share. These include, among others, pectoral fins on the sides;(4) spines on the dorsal and anal fins, probably for self-defense;(2,3) pelvic fins on the abdomen with one spine and up to five soft rays;(2,3,4) dorsal and anal fins that are detached from the caudal (tail) fin,(2,3) which has fewer than eighteen principal rays;(4) and a jaw that can be thrust outward to suck food into the mouth.(3) Perciforms occupy important positions in ecosystems, serving as both predators and prey and frequently taking part in mutually-beneficial relationships with other species, as in the case of the cleaner fish which eat parasites off of larger fish.(3) For thousands of years, perciforms have also been highly significant for humans, who make use of such perciforms as tuna, mackerel, bass, and many others as major food sources(3)—so much so that some perciforms are now seriously threatened by over-fishing.(3,4) Today many beautiful perciforms are also popular as aquarium fish.(3)
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| Rights holder/Author | Noah Weisz, Noah Weisz |
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Characteristics:
The synapomorphies supporting monophyly of Drepanidae include the following, according to Minet and Scoble (1998): 1. Adults with characteristic, unique abdominal tympanal organ, associated with tergosternal sclerites which connect tergum 1 with sternum 2, and having internal tympana ). 2. Secondary seta, dorso-caudad of spiracle, on larval segments A1-A8.
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| Rights holder/Author | Leptree.net, Charles Mitter, LepTree |
| Source | http://www.leptree.net/lep_taxon_page?id=3202&scientificName=Drepanidae |
You might think that sharks or whales rule the oceans’ vertebrate life, but in terms of number of species, the prize goes to the perciforms. The largest order of vertebrates in the world,(1,2) the perciformes are a group of over 10,000 species of fish (1,2,3,4) that live all over the globe (3,4)—not just deep in the ocean, (2,3,4) but also in lakes, rivers,(2,3,4) and most of all in coral reefs off of the seashore.(2) From tiny gobies to long, fierce barracudas,(4) from the black and blue wolf-eel to the vivid orange and white clown anemone fish,(5) from shocking electric stargazers to insect-shooting archer fish,(4) perciforms have an endless variety of sizes, shapes, colors, and behaviors.(4) Yet despite their amazing diversity (and the uncertainty about the exact groups belonging in this order of fish (3,4), most perciformes share some important features. These include, among others, pectoral fins on the sides;(2) spines on the dorsal fin (on the fish’s back) and anal fin (on the fish’s underside), probably for self-defense;(3,4) a tail fin that is unconnected to the other fins;(3,4) and a jaw that can be pushed outward to suck food into the mouth.(4) Perciforms have many important interactions with other species, serving as both predators and prey and frequently taking part in relationships that benefit both themselves and other species, as in the case of cleaner fish, which tidy up the mouths and bodies of larger fish and get a tasty meal of small morsels in the process.(4) For thousands of years, perciforms have also been very important for humans, who make use of perciforms such as tuna, mackerel, bass, and many others as major food sources(4)—so much so that some of these are now seriously threatened by overfishing.(2,4) Today many beautiful perciforms are also popular choices for aquariums.(4)
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | Noah Weisz, Noah Weisz |
| Source | No source database. |
Introduction:
The Drepanidae comprise about 650 species divided into three subfamilies, which in the past were often treated as separate families because they differ considerably in morphology(Minet and Scoble 1998). Drepanidae are sometimes called the hook tip moths,but this name really applies only to the subfamily Drepaninae. The most striking character uniting the Drepanidae is the pair ultrasound-detecting tympanal organs (“ears”) on the anterior region of the abdomen, which differ in a characteristic way from those of all other Lepidoptera with abdominal “ears”. A detailed illustrated account of drepanid hearing organs can be found in Scoble (1982), and an image of these structures can be found here. As is the case for other Lepidoptera with similar structures, the primary function of the ultrasound hearing organs in Drepanidae appears to be detection of bat predators (Surlykke et al. 2003).
The drepanid subfamilies can be characterized as follows (Minet and Scoble 1998).
The Cyclidiinae contain less than 15 species in just two or three genera, all restricted to the Oriental region. The moths are slender, white with dark stripes, and geometrid-like. Some excellent images of live Cyclidia adults and larvae can be found here.
Thyatira batis
The Thyatirinae include about 50 genera and 200 species. They are widely distributed, occurring in the Holarctic and Oriental regions as well as Africa, New Guinea and the neotropics. The moths are robust, generally drab in color though often bearing large spots on the wings. They resemble noctuids, folding the wings in tent-like fashion over the body at rest. Some excellent images of live Thyatira adults and larvae can be found at jpmoths.org.
Drepana arcuata
The Drepaninae comprise about 450 species in about 70 genera. They are very widespread, absent only from the Neotropical region and from New Zealand, but most diverse in Asia and the Oriental region. The moths are delicate and geometrid-like, and often have hook-shaped forewing tips. In larvae of Drepaninae, the anal prolegs (the terminal pair) are greatly reduced and lack the crochets typical of macrolepidopteran caterpillars, while the so-called anal shield is expanded into a long, pointed process. In contrast, the anal prolegs are fully developed in Cyclidiinae and only somewhat reduced in Thyatirinae. Some excellent images of live Drepaninae adults and larvae can be found here, of species including Tridrepana crocea, which shows the anal shield extension very clearly.
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| Rights holder/Author | Leptree.net, Charles Mitter, LepTree |
| Source | http://www.leptree.net/lep_taxon_page?id=3202&scientificName=Drepanidae |
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) Stats
Specimen Records:86007
Specimens with Sequences:74654
Specimens with Barcodes:69262
Species:6154
Species With Barcodes:5777
Public Records:51105
Public Species:3721
Public BINs:5573
Diversity description:
Drepanidae are divided into three subfamilies, which can be characterized as follows (Minet and Scoble 1998).
The Thyatirinae include about 50 genera and 200 species. They are widely distributed, occurring in the Holarctic and Oriental regions as well as Africa, New Guinea and the neotropics.
The Cyclidiinae contain less than 15 species in just two or three genera.
The Drepaninae comprise about 450 species in about 70 genera. They are very widespread, most diverse in Asia and the Oriental region, absent only from the Neotropical region and from New Zealand.
Scoble and Edwards (1988) also assigned to Drepanidae the six species of the Australian genus Hypsidia, but did not place this genus to subfamily. Subsequent authors have argued that it belongs in Thyatirinae (Holloway 1998, Minet 2002).
Altogether, then, the Drepanidae comprise about 650 species.
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | Leptree.net, Charles Mitter, LepTree |
| Source | http://www.leptree.net/lep_taxon_page?id=3202&scientificName=Drepanidae |
Geographic Range:
Nearctic, Palearctic, Oriental, Ethiopian, Neotropical, Australian
Geographic Range description:
While the family as a whole is very widespread, species diversity is concentrated in the tropics and subtropics of the Old World (Scoble 1982).
Geographic Distribution:
While the family as a whole is very widespread, species diversity is especially concentrated in the tropics and subtropics of the Old World (Scoble 1982).
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | Leptree.net, Charles Mitter, LepTree |
| Source | http://www.leptree.net/lep_taxon_page?id=3202&scientificName=Drepanidae |