{{Short description|Genus of fishes}} {{Automatic taxobox | name = Midshipman fish | fossil_range = [[Late Miocene]]-Present<ref>{{cite journal |last=Sepkoski |first=Jack |title=A compendium of fossil marine animal genera |journal=Bulletins of American Paleontology |volume=364 |page=560 |year=2002 |url=http://strata.ummp.lsa.umich.edu/jack/showgenera.php?taxon=611&rank=class |access-date=2008-01-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723131237/http://strata.ummp.lsa.umich.edu/jack/showgenera.php?taxon=611&rank=class |archive-date=2011-07-23 }}</ref><br>~{{fossil range|11.6|0}} | image = Plainfin Midshipman.JPG | image_caption = Plainfin midshipman (''[[Porichthys notatus]]'') | taxon = Porichthys | authority = [[Charles Frédéric Girard|Girard]] 1854 | type_species = ''Porichthys notatus'' | type_species_authority = Girard 1854<ref name = CoF>{{Cof record|genid=2224|title=Porichthys|access-date=18 July 2018}}</ref> | subdivision_ranks = [[Species]] | subdivision = [[Midshipman fish#Species|See text]] }}
A '''midshipman fish''' is any species of [[toadfish]] belonging to the [[genus]] '''''Porichthys''''' (in family [[Batrachoididae]]). Historically, there have been two common names. ''Porichthys'' refers to the well developed pores on the fish, and this led to the common name "Porous Catfish".<ref name=Cooper>{{cite book |last1=Cooper |first1=James Graham |last2=Suckley |first2=George |last3=Cooper |first3=William |last4=Gibbs |first4=George |last5= Gray |first5= Asa |last6=LeConte |first6=John L. |title=The Natural History of Washington Territory |publisher=Bailliere Brothers |location=New York |date=1859 |page=356 }}</ref> The other common name, "Midshipman" is based on the pattern of button-like luminous spots ([[photophore]]s) which resemble the buttons on the uniforms of young naval officers known as [[Midshipman|midshipmen]].<ref name=Jordan>{{cite journal |last1=Jordan |first1=David S. |last2=Bollman |first2=Charles H. |title=Scientific results of explorations by steamer ''Albatross''. |journal=Proceedings of the United States National Museum |date=1889 |volume=12 |pages=149–183 }}</ref>
Midshipman fish are distinguished by their [[photophore]]s and four [[lateral line]]s. Typical midshipman fishes, such as the plainfin midshipman (''[[Porichthys notatus]]''), are [[nocturnal]] and bury themselves in sand or mud in the intertidal zone during the day, to float just above the seabed at night. Some species have venomous dorsal spines and are capable of inflicting serious injuries if handled.<ref name="Lopes-Ferreira Ramos Martins Lima 2014 pp. 28–39">{{cite journal |last1=Lopes-Ferreira |first1=Mônica |last2=Ramos |first2=Anderson Daniel |last3=Martins |first3=Itamar Alves |last4=Lima |first4=Carla |last5=Conceição |first5=Katia |last6=Haddad |first6=Vidal |title=Clinical manifestations and experimental studies on the spine extract of the toadfish Porichthys porosissimus |journal=Toxicon |date=August 2014 |volume=86 |pages=28–39 |doi=10.1016/j.toxicon.2014.04.014 |pmid=24814010 }}</ref>
== Description == Male midshipman fish have two [[Morph (zoology)|morphs]]: type I and type II. Type I and type II males have different reproductive strategies, and can be distinguished from each other based on physical characteristics. Type I males are eight times larger in body mass, and have much larger vocal organs. Type II males’ reproductive organs are seven times larger in size than those of type I males.<ref name=Brantley>{{cite journal |last1=Brantley |first1=Richard K. |last2=Bass |first2=Andrew H. |title=Alternative Male Spawning Tactics and Acoustic Signals in the Plainfin Midshipman Fish Porichthys notatus Girard (Teleostei, Batrachoididae) |journal=Ethology |date=26 April 2010 |volume=96 |issue=3 |pages=213–232 |doi=10.1111/j.1439-0310.1994.tb01011.x }}</ref> Female and type II male midshipman fish can be distinguished from each other by the female's slightly larger size, and the type II male midshipman's large reproductive organs.<ref name=Lee>{{cite journal |last1=Lee |first1=Jonathan S. F. |last2=Bass |first2=Andrew H. |title=Dimorphic male midshipman fish: reduced sexual selection or sexual selection for reduced characters? |journal=Behavioral Ecology |date=July 2006 |volume=17 |issue=4 |pages=670–675 |doi=10.1093/beheco/ark015 |doi-access=free }}</ref>
== Species == [[File:Porichthys plectrodon photophores.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Photophore]]s on an Atlantic midshipman. Midshipman fish are named after their photophores.]] === Extant species === There are currently 14 recognized extant species in this genus:<ref>{{FishBase genus | genus = Porichthys| month = April | year = 2012}}</ref> * ''[[Porichthys analis]]'' <small>[[Carl Leavitt Hubbs|C. L. Hubbs]] & [[Leonard Peter Schultz|L. P. Schultz]], 1939</small> (Darkedge midshipman) * ''[[Porichthys bathoiketes]]'' <small>[[Carter Rowell Gilbert|C. R. Gilbert]], 1968</small> * ''[[Porichthys ephippiatus]]'' <small>[[Harold J. Walker Jr.|H. J. Walker]] & [[Richard Heinrich Rosenblatt|Rosenblatt]], 1988</small> (Saddle midshipman) * ''[[Porichthys greenei]]'' <small>[[Charles Henry Gilbert|C. H. Gilbert]] & [[Edwin Chapin Starks|Starks]], 1904</small> (Greene's midshipman) * ''[[Porichthys kymosemeum]]'' <small>[[Carter Rowell Gilbert|C. R. Gilbert]], 1968</small> * ''[[Porichthys margaritatus]]'' <small>([[John Richardson (naturalist)|J. Richardson]], 1844)</small> (Daisy midshipman) * ''[[Porichthys mimeticus]]'' <small>[[Harold J. Walker Jr.|H. J. Walker]] & [[Richard Heinrich Rosenblatt|Rosenblatt]], 1988</small> (Mimetic midshipman) * ''[[Porichthys myriaster]]'' <small>[[Carl Leavitt Hubbs|C. L. Hubbs]] & [[Leonard Peter Schultz|L. P. Schultz]], 1939</small> (Specklefin midshipman) * ''[[Porichthys notatus]]'' <small>[[Charles Frédéric Girard|Girard]], 1854</small> (Plainfin midshipman) * ''[[Porichthys oculellus]]'' <small>[[Harold J. Walker Jr.|H. J. Walker]] & [[Richard Heinrich Rosenblatt|Rosenblatt]], 1988</small> (Smalleye midshipman) * ''[[Porichthys oculofrenum]]'' <small>[[Carter Rowell Gilbert|C. R. Gilbert]], 1968</small> * ''[[Porichthys pauciradiatus]]'' <small>[[David Keller Caldwell|D. K. Caldwell]] & [[Melba Carstarphen Caldwell|M. C. Caldwell]], 1963</small> * ''[[Porichthys plectrodon]]'' <small>[[David Starr Jordan|D. S. Jordan]] & [[Charles Henry Gilbert|C. H. Gilbert]], 1882</small> (Atlantic midshipman) * ''[[Porichthys porosissimus]]'' <small>([[Georges Cuvier|G. Cuvier]], 1829)</small>
=== Fossil species === * {{extinct}}''[[Porichthys analis]]'' - [[Early Pliocene]] [[Onzole Formation]], Ecuador<ref name=Onzole>{{cite web|url=https://paleobiodb.org/classic/displayCollResults?collection_no=col:135043 |title=Onzole Formation|website=[[Fossilworks]].org}}</ref> * {{extinct}}''[[Porichthys margaritatus]]'' - idem * {{extinct}}''[[Porichthys pedemontanus]]'' {{small|Robba 1970}} - [[Tortonian]] Italy<ref>{{cite web|url=https://paleobiodb.org/classic/basicTaxonInfo?taxon_no=txn:361425 |title=''Porichthys pedemontanus'' Robba 1970 (toadfish)|website=[[Fossilworks]].org}}</ref>
== Biology == [[File:Atlantic midshipman ( Porichthys plectrodon ).jpg|thumb|Atlantic midshipman ''([[Porichthys plectrodon]])'']] === Reproduction and vocalization === {{main|Reproduction and vocalization in midshipman fish}} Mating in midshipman fishes depends on auditory communication. Male midshipman fish produce several different vocalizations while females only make grunts in non-breeding situations.<ref name=Brantley /> <!--summary needs expanding, as does the lead of the subsid. article.-->
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{commons category-inline|Porichthys}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1909490}}
[[Category:Batrachoididae]] [[Category:Bioluminescent fish]] [[Category:Extant Miocene first appearances]]