Neil McDaniel, Kanada
Info
For a long time, Lumpenus sagitta was classified as belonging to the subfamily of sticklebacks, but was later assigned to the genus of snake sticklebacks.
The reason for this was that these fish are more closely related to the Zaproridae than to the sticklebacks.
In the specialist literature, Lumpenus sagitta is described as an algae eater, but this classification is completely overturned by the research report “When digestive physiology doesn't match ‘diet’: Lumpenus sagitta (Stichaeidae) is an ‘omnivore’ with a carnivorous gut.”
It is true that Lumpenus sagitta consumes algae, but the fish is not able to digest the algae it consumes.
When digestive physiology doesn't match “diet”: Lumpenus sagitta (Stichaeidae) is an “omnivore” with a carnivorous gut.
The reason for this is that the snake eel has a short intestine with low amylolytic activity, which even decreases as the fish grows.
It has been confirmed that Lumpenus sagitta has the ability to increase chitinolytic digestion, which is primarily aimed at a carnivorous diet, indicating that the snakehead fish probably digests epibionts on the algae and other invertebrates associated with the algae instead.
Etymology: The species name “sagitta” means “arrow,” referring to the animal's long, slender body.
Synonyms:
Blennius anguillaris Pallas, 1814 · unaccepted
Leptogunnellus gracilis Ayres, 1855 · unaccepted
Lumpenus anguillaris (Pallas, 1814) · unaccepted
