# Pineapplefish

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{{Short description|Species of fish}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Monocentridae - Cleidopus gloriamaris.JPG
| image_caption = ''Cleidopus gloriamaris'' at Monaco Aquarium
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 20 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Moore, J. |date=2020 |title=''Cleidopus gloriamaris'' |volume=2020 |article-number=e.T123356757A123356792 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T123356757A123356792.en |access-date=20 November 2021}}</ref>
| genus = Cleidopus
| parent_authority = [De Vis](/source/Charles_Walter_De_Vis), 1882
| species = gloriamaris
| authority = [De Vis](/source/Charles_Walter_De_Vis), 1882
}}
thumb|right|Pineapplefish off Fly Point, New South Wales

The '''pineapplefish''' ('''''Cleidopus gloriamaris''''') also known as the '''mailfish''', is a species of [fish](/source/fish) in the family [Monocentridae](/source/Monocentridae), and the sole member of the genus '''''Cleidopus'''''. It is also known as the knightfish or the coat-of-mail fish, due to the armor-like scales covering its body, and the port-and-starboard light fish, as it has a pair of [bioluminescent organs](/source/photophore) that are reminiscent of [navigation light](/source/navigation_light)s on ships.<ref name="burgess and axelrod">{{cite book |author1=Burgess, W.  |author2=Axelrod, H.R.  |name-list-style=amp |title=Pacific Marine Fishes |edition=second |year=1973 |publisher=T.F.H. Publications |isbn=0-87666-123-1}}</ref> Its [specific epithet](/source/specific_name_(zoology)) is from the [Latin](/source/Latin) {{Lang|la|gloria}} and ''{{Lang|la|maris}}'', meaning "glory of the sea".<ref name="ogilby">{{cite book |author=Ogilby, J.D. |chapter=Contributions to Australian Ichthyology |title=The Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales For the Year 1899|year=1900 |publisher=F. Cunninghame & Co.}}</ref>

== Distribution and habitat ==
The pineapplefish is native to coastal waters off [Queensland](/source/Queensland), [New South Wales](/source/New_South_Wales), and [Western Australia](/source/Western_Australia).<ref name="wheeler">{{cite book |author=Wheeler, A. |title=The World Encyclopedia of Fishes |publisher=Macdonald & Co. (Publishers) Ltd. |year=1985 |isbn=0-356-10715-9}}</ref> It occurs at a depth of {{convert|6|–|200|m|ft|sp=us}} in [reef](/source/reef)s and [harbors](/source/harbors).<ref name="fishbase"/>

== Description ==
thumb|left|Two pineapplefish at the Sydney Aquarium
The pineapplefish grows up to {{convert|22|cm|in|abbr=on}} long.<ref name="fishbase">{{FishBase|genus=Cleidopus |species=gloriamaris |month=March |year=2009}}</ref> It has a plump, rounded body almost completely covered in large, rough scales with sharp, backward-pointing spines. The head is large, with [mucous](/source/mucus) pits bordered by rough ridges, and is armored with heavy bone. The snout is blunt and overhangs the wide [mouth](/source/mouth). The [teeth](/source/teeth) are tiny and thin, present on the jaws, palatine, and vomer.<ref name="ogilby"/><ref name="wheeler"/> There are two pits containing [bioluminescent](/source/bioluminescence) [bacteria](/source/bacteria) on the [lower jaw](/source/lower_jaw) near the corners of the [mouth](/source/mouth), which are concealed when the mouth is closed.<ref name="smith et al"/> This [photophore](/source/photophore) is green in young fish and becomes more red as it ages.<ref name="mcgrouther">McGrouther, M. (November 2004) [http://www.austmus.gov.au/fishes/fishfacts/fish/cgloriamar.htm Pineapplefish, ''Cleidopus gloriamaris'']. ''Australian Museum Fish Site''. Retrieved on March 13, 2009.</ref> The first [dorsal fin](/source/dorsal_fin) consists of 5–7 strong spines; the spines are free of a membrane and point alternatingly left and right. The second dorsal fin contains 12 [soft rays](/source/fin_ray). Each [pelvic fin](/source/pelvic_fin) contains an extremely large spine, nearly as long as the head, and 3–4 rudimentary rays. The pelvic spine can be locked erect at a right angle to the body. The [anal fin](/source/anal_fin) contains 11–12 rays and the [pectoral fin](/source/pectoral_fin)s 14–15 rays.<ref name="ogilby"/><ref name="fishbase"/>

The scales of the pineapplefish are yellow to whitish with black rear margins, forming the striking pattern that gives this fish its name. The lips, chin, and parts of the jaw are black. There is a red stripe on the lower jaw running to the photophore.<ref name="wheeler"/> This species is very similar to the pinecone fishes of the genus ''[Monocentris](/source/Monocentris)'', and is placed within that genus by some authors. ''Cleidopus'' differs from ''Monocentris'' in having a narrow [preorbital bone](/source/orbit_(anatomy)) and in the position of its light organs, which are near the tip of the lower jaw in ''Monocentris''.<ref name="smith et al">{{cite book |title=Smiths' Sea Fishes |author=Smith, J.L.B., M.M. and Heemstra, P. |publisher=Struik |year=2003 |isbn=1-86872-890-0}}</ref> This species also differs from the [Japanese pineapplefish](/source/Monocentris_japonica) (''Monocentris japonica'') in having a more rounded snout.<ref name="mcgrouther"/>

== Biology and ecology ==
Due to its small fins and rigid armor, the pineapplefish is a weak swimmer.<ref name="ogilby"/> A [nocturnal](/source/nocturnal) species, it may be found inside caves and under rocky ledges during the day.<ref name="burke"/> In the Fly Point Halifax Park Aquatic Preserve, [New South Wales](/source/New_South_Wales), a small group of pineapplefish has been documented under the same ledge for at least seven years, and another group under a different ledge for three years.<ref name="harasti">Harasti, D. [http://www.daveharasti.com/articles/speciesspotlight/pineapplefish.htm Pineapple Fish (''Cleidopus gloriamaris'')]. ''The Underwater Photo Gallery - Dave Harasti''. Retrieved on March 13, 2009.</ref> At night, this species ventures out onto sandy flats to feed, using its light organs to illuminate small [shrimp](/source/shrimp). The light may also be used to communicate with conspecifics.<ref name="burke">{{cite book |title=The Complete Burke's Backyard: The Ultimate Book of Fact Sheets |author=Burke, D. |publisher=Murdoch Books |year=2005 |isbn=1-74045-739-0}}</ref> The light of the pineapplefish is produced by [symbiotic](/source/symbiosis) colonies of the bacteria ''[Vibrio fischeri](/source/Vibrio_fischeri)'' within its photophores.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Fitzgerald, J.M. |title=Classification of luminous bacteria from the light organ of the Australian Pinecone fish, ''Cleidopus gloriamaris'' |journal=Archives of Microbiology |volume=112 |issue=2 |date=March 1977 |pages=153–156 |doi=10.1007/BF00429328|s2cid=33323783 }}</ref> ''V. fischeri'' are also found free-living in sea water and are naturally released from the pineapplefish's photophores. However, their luminescence dims within a matter of hours after being released.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Contribution by Symbiotically Luminous Fishes to the Occurrence and Bioluminescence of Luminous Bacteria in Seawater |author=Nealson, K.M., Haygood, M.G., Tebo, B.M., Roman, M., Miller, E. and McCosker, J.E. |journal=Microbial Ecology |volume=10 |issue=1 |date=March 1984 |pages=69–77 |doi=10.1007/BF02011596|pmid=24221051 |s2cid=7804332 }}</ref> This species has lived up to 10 years in captivity.<ref name="harasti"/>

== Relationship to humans ==
The pineapplefish is moderately common in deep water, but due to its retiring nature, for some time after its initial discovery it was only known from specimens tossed ashore by storms.<ref name="wheeler"/> This fish is sometimes collected by commercial [trawler](/source/Fishing_trawler)s, and is popular with [saltwater fish aquarists](/source/fishkeeping).<ref name="burgess and axelrod"/><ref name="burke"/> It is fairly hardy, but must be provided with rocky hiding places and live food.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.aquariumslife.com/2008/11/pineapple-fish-cleidopus-gloriamaris.html |title= Pineapple fish - ''Cleidopus gloriamaris''| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081228194222/http://www.aquariumslife.com/2008/11/pineapple-fish-cleidopus-gloriamaris.html |archive-date=2008-12-28|website=Aquariums Life|url-status= usurped |access-date=March 13, 2009}}</ref>

The species is not targeted by any fisheries, but is often taken as [bycatch](/source/bycatch) by commercial trawlers.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bray|first1=Dianne|title=Australian Pineapplefish, ''Cleidopus gloriamaris''|url=https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1391#moreinfo|website=Fishes of Australia|access-date=14 September 2014}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Commons category|Cleidopus gloriamaris}}
{{Wikispecies|Cleidopus gloriamaris}}

{{Taxonbar|from1=Q1758490|from2=Q13469279}}

Category:Monocentridae
<!-- Category:Monotypic fish genera moved to "Cleidopus" redirect -->
Category:Taxa named by Charles Walter De Vis
Category:Bioluminescent fish
Category:Marine fish of Eastern Australia
Category:Marine fish of Western Australia
Category:Fish described in 1882

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Pineapplefish](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pineapplefish) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pineapplefish?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.