What are the different type of molly fish?

What is a Harlequin sailfin molly?

The Harlequin Sailfin Molly is an extremely attractive fish with a black and white base and plenty of gold speckles. It’s a peaceful fish well suited to housemates, and it can be six inches long when fully grown. It’s hardy and comfortable in water temperatures between 68 and 82-degrees.

Why do fish have sails on their heads?

Sail Function – Researchers have determined that these fish raise their sails when they hunt for fish. They believe the sail reduces the movement of the head, making the long bill harder for the fish to see. Both species utilize pelagic, or open ocean, habitats.

Why do fish have sails on their back?

The Sail – Despite the fact you’ve probably only ever seen one depicted with its sail up, this fish typically swims with the sail folded down to its back. This helps streamline its body and swim faster. Sail Function – Researchers have determined that these fish raise their sails when they hunt for fish.

Why do animals have sails on their backs?

However one look at the living animal makes it clear that these processes appear to serve as a means of extending the height of the back without becoming a full-fledged sail.

What is the function of the sails of Sailfish?

The sails of sailfish, marlins and lionfish may provide extra control over body orientation in the 3D realm of the ocean (Fig. 3). Similar functions may be employed by the dorsal sails on newts. However all three taxa are capable of doing something that no sailbacked reptile seems able to do: they can dynamically raise and lower their sails.

How do Sailfish keep their bill steady when extending the sail?

We found that when extending the sail, sailfish manage to keep their bill steady with no lateral oscillations, which are present when sailfish swim with their sail tucked in. We think that the sail acts as a control surface, damping and thereby minimizing the oscillations of the bill and the potential disturbance these oscillations could create.

Why do Sailfish raise their fins when in school?

The huge dorsal fin, or sail of the sailfish is kept retracted most of the time. Sailfish raise them if they want to herd a school of small fish, and also after periods of high activity, presumably to cool down. Billfish occur worldwide in temperate and tropical waters.

What is the difference between Sailfish and Marlin?

While Swordfish Marlin generally tend to hunt alone, Sailfish like to hunt together. They are incredibly coordinated in this endeavor, so much so that they have been lovingly nicknamed “the wolves of the sea.” Pro Tip: Whenever you hook a single Sailfish, rest assured that there are many others nearby.

Are sailfish and sailfish the same fish?

That is one of the main reasons you will more often than not find Sailfish categorized as the same fish. On the outside, these three fish look quite similar. They even share the same diet, but that doesn’t mean that they are the same fish. They are some differences that set them apart from one another.

What is the function of the sails on a whale’s tail?

The most likely function for these sails appears to be some kind of signaling, be it sexual, within, or across species. Though the most likely explanation it is also the hardest one to test as it requires a sample size that is currently not available to us in the fossil record.

What is a sailbacked animal?

Sailbacked animals are rather rare in our modern day and age, but back in the Mesozoic and Paleozoic there were sails a plenty. By far the most popular sailbacked taxa of all time would be the pelycosaurs in the genus Dimetrodon. These were some of the largest predators of the Permian (up to 4.6 meters [15 feet] long in the largest species).

Why do Sailfish keep their sail tucked in?

Interestingly, sailfish keep their sail tucked in (Fig. 1 A) when cruising around. This makes sense, because a sail as large as that of the sailfish may cause increased resistance in the water. So what is its function? We observed that the sail is extended only when the sailfish are maneuvering around their prey.

What is the function of the sail on a Sailfish?

We also studied the function of another distinctive feature of the sailfish: its sail. Interestingly, sailfish keep their sail tucked in (Fig. 1 A) when cruising around. This makes sense, because a sail as large as that of the sailfish may cause increased resistance in the water. So what is its function?

How long is a Sailfish without its bill extension?

These values are in line with expectations for a 1.5 m long fish (i.e. a sailfish without its 30 cm bill ‘extension’ (see the electronic supplementary material, text)). Much of the effectiveness of slashing can be attributed to the rapid lateral rotation of the bill and consequent swift motion of the bill tip.

What makes the Sailfish bill an effective feeding adaptation?

Our results demonstrate that the combination of stealth and rapid motion make the sailfish bill an extremely effective feeding adaptation for capturing schooling prey. 1. Introduction The billfishes (i.e. swordfish, spearfish, sailfish and marlins) are some of the most enigmatic marine species and are among the fastest swimmers in the ocean [ 1 ].

What are the characteristics of a Marlin?

The main defining features of a marlin is its dorsal fin. The fin is smaller than the other species of billfish, and connects to the spine along a soft ridge. Their bills are often shorter and more rounded than the bill of a swordfish or a sailfish.

Are there any extant vertebrates with sailbacks?

This has lead to the apparent assumption that there are no extant vertebrates with sailbacks. There are, in fact, quite a few sailbacked animals alive today. These include various fish, amphibians and even reptile species. Learning what these taxa use their sails for may offer us a glimpse at what extinct animals were doing with their sails.

Why do reptiles have sails on their back?

So it appears that extant reptiles have evolved sails as a means of sexual signaling, not thermoregulation. Now, it’s possible that the potential increase in heat absorption that these sails might afford, are used as a way for males to warm up sooner, allowing for better defense of territories.

What is the function of a whale’s vibrissae?

The blowholes are connected directly to the lungs, so the whale can take a mouthful of water and breathe at the same time. The rostrum is dimpled and bumpy. Each bump has a hair sticking out of it called a vibrissa. These vibrissae are also found around the mouth. They function as tactile sensors, giving the whale a well-developed sense of touch.

What is the function of the tail of a whale?

The tail is made up of two large flukes with a notch in between them. The flukes are controlled by a massive muscle system in the peduncle. These muscles account for a third of the whale’s total body weight. The pectoral flippers are paddle shaped and pointed on the ends. They’re used for steering and, along with the flukes, for stopping.

What is the anatomy of a whale like?

Whale Anatomy. When it comes to the anatomy of marine mammals whales, dolphins and porpoises all share several common and unique characteristics that allow them to survive and prosper in the various oceanic environments they can be found living in. Like other mammals these marine animals require oxygen to breathe, eyes to see,…

What is the function of the lungs in a whale?

A whale’s lungs are connected as with land animals, but a flap seals the mouth from the windpipe when submerged. Air pressure in a whale’s lungs prevents water from entering during feeding while submerged.

Are sailbacked animals sexually dimorphic?

One of the apparent difficulties with the interpretation that these sails were sexually dimorphic signals is the implication that all the sailbacked animals found so far are all one sex (likely male, if the sexual selection of yesteryear followed the same rules as sexual selection today). On the outset this does seem to be preposterous.