Zebrias

{{Short description|Genus of fishes}} {{Automatic taxobox | image = ShimaUS.jpg | image_caption = ''Zebrias zebra'' | taxon = Zebrias | authority = D. S. Jordan & Snyder, 1900 | type_species = ''Solea zebrina'' | type_species_authority = Temminck & Schlegel, 1846 | synonyms = *''Haplozebrias'' Chabanaud, 1943 *''Holonodus'' Chabanaud, 1936 *''Nematozebrias'' Chabanaud, 1943 *''Strabozebrias'' Chabanaud, 1943 }}

'''''Zebrias''''' is a genus of ray-finned fish in the family Soleidae.

== Taxonomy == The genus ''Zebrias'' was created in 1900 by David Starr Jordan and John Otterbein Snyder. It was named after the fish in its genus' stripes, which resemble that of a zebra's.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://etyfish.org/carangiformes4/ | title = Order CARANGIFORMES (part 4): Families SOLEIDAE and CYNOGLOSSIDAE | access-date= 21 May 2025 | author1 = Christopher Scharpf | author2 = Kenneth J. Lazara | name-list-style = amp | work = The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database | publisher = Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara | date = 14 January 2025}}</ref> The genus has been around for many years, but most research has been ignored until the 19th century.

=== Species === The 16 currently recognized species in this genus are:<ref>{{Cof genus | Zebrias | access-date = 21 May 2025}}</ref> * ''Zebrias altipinnis'' (Alcock, 1890) * ''Zebrias callizona'' (Regan, 1903) * ''Zebrias cancellatus'' (McCulloch, 1916) (harrowed sole) * ''Zebrias captivus'' J. E. Randall, 1995 (convict zebra sole) * ''Zebrias craticulus'' (McCulloch, 1916) (Wickerwork sole) * ''Zebrias crossolepis'' P. S. Cheng & Y. W. Chang, 1965 * ''Zebrias japonicus'' (Bleeker, 1860) * ''Zebrias keralensis'' Joglekar, 1976 * ''Zebrias lucapensis'' Seigel & Adamson, 1985 * ''Zebrias maculosus'' Oommen, 1977 * ''Zebrias munroi'' (Whitley, 1966) * ''Zebrias penescalaris'' M. F. Gomon, 1987 (duskybanded sole) * ''Zebrias quagga'' (Kaup, 1858) (fringefin zebra sole) * ''Zebrias scalaris'' M. F. Gomon, 1987 (many-band sole) * ''Zebrias zebra'' (Bloch, 1787) (zebra sole) * ''Zebrias zebrinus'' (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846) ;''Incertae sedis'' * ''Zebrias annandalei'' Talwar & Chakrapany, 1967 ;Synonyms * ''Zebrias fasciatus'' (Basilewsky, 1855); valid as ''Zebrias zebrinus'' {{small|(Temminck & Schlegel, 1846)}} * ''Zebrias regani''; valid as ''Pseudaesopia regani'' (South African zebra sole) * ''Zebrias synapturoides''; valid as ''Pseudaesopia synapturoides'' (Indian zebra sole)

== Characteristics == Both eyes are located on the top of the fish along with their coloured bands while a pectoral fin is located on the bottom.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Wang |first1=Zhongming |last2=Kong |first2=Xiaoyu |last3=Huang |first3=Liangmin |last4=Wang |first4=Shuying |last5=Shi |first5=Wei |last6=Kang |first6=Bin |date=August 2014 |title=Morphological and molecular evidence supports the occurrence of a single species of ''Zebrias zebrinus'' along the coastal waters of China |url=http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s13131-014-0457-y |journal=Acta Oceanologica Sinica |language=en |volume=33 |issue=8 |pages=44–54 |doi=10.1007/s13131-014-0457-y |s2cid=84228201 |issn=0253-505X|url-access=subscription }}</ref> The dorsal and anal fins merge in to become the caudal fin which is noticeable by its yellow marks. The fish is oval-like in shape and most are seen to be {{convert|6-10|cm|in}} in length, but can reach up to {{convert|20|cm|in}}. Some members of this genus are toxic, which is a quality that some have accumulated during evolution to enhance feeding.<ref>{{cite book |author=Elst, R. van der |year=1997|title=A Guide to the Common Sea Fishes of South Africa |publisher=New Holland Publishers, Limited |isbn=978-1868253944}}</ref>

== Distribution == Species in the genus ''Zebrias'' are benthic and found in saltwater and brackish environments. They often live close to the coast in shallow waters ranging from {{convert|5–40|m|ft}} in depth. They are most commonly found in sandy areas or near seagrasses where they can blend into their environment most efficiently. They can be found in tropical environments where they are native to the coastal waters in the Indo-Pacific.<ref name=SFB>{{Cite book |last=Froese |first=Rainer |editor-first1=Villy |editor-first2=Jay |editor-last1=Christensen |editor-last2=MacLean |chapter=The science in FishBase |doi=10.1017/cbo9780511920943.006 |title=Ecosystem Approaches to Fisheries |year=2011 |pages=47–52 |place=Cambridge |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=9780511920943}}</ref>

== Behavior == Like other flatfish, fish in the genus ''Zebrias'' avoid predators based by hiding and camouflaging. To move, they undulate their dorsal and anal fins to crawl along the ocean floor. Their flat bodies and colour allow them to blend into the sea floor to match the texture of the sea floor. They may also bury themselves under the sediment if a predator is near and stay completely still making them almost completely invisible.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ryer |first=Clifford H. |date=April 2008 |title=A review of flatfish behavior relative to trawls |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0165783607002573 |journal=Fisheries Research |language=en |volume=90 |issue=1–3 |pages=138–146 |doi=10.1016/j.fishres.2007.10.005|bibcode=2008FishR..90..138R |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

=== Reproduction and development === These species are oviparous as they shed eggs directly into the water column. They reproduce by external fertilization in which the sperm fertilizes an egg outside of the organism. Species in ''Zebrias'' begin their life as bilaterally symmetrical larvae that swim up-right with an eye on both sides of the head. When transitioning into juvenile fish they metamorphose asymmetrically causing a dorsoventrally flat adult.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Schreiber |first1=A.M. |last2=Wang |first2=X. |last3=Tan |first3=Y. |last4=Sievers |first4=Q. |last5=Sievers |first5=B. |last6=Lee |first6=M. |last7=Burrall |first7=K. |date=November 2010 |title=Thyroid hormone mediates otolith growth and development during flatfish metamorphosis |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0016648010002911 |journal=General and Comparative Endocrinology |language=en |volume=169 |issue=2 |pages=130–137 |doi=10.1016/j.ygcen.2010.08.008|pmid=20736011 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

=== Feeding === Zebrias feed by swimming along the ocean floor searching for food. Their flatted bodies help with scanning food from the sea floor. Their eyes are located on the top allowing them to see food from above. They are carnivores that feed mainly on polychaete worms, molluscs, small crustaceans, and other small benthic organisms.<ref name=SFB/> They rely mostly on their visual cues to detect predators and catch prey. Often, their yellow tail is positioned vertically, which is thought to act as a lure to prey on organisms.

== Ecology == Fish in this genus maintain a balanced number of species. However, they are a part of the Soleidae, in which overfishing in Europe has caused many genera of sole fish to become endangered with declining populations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=''Solea solea'' sole :: Northern Ireland's Priority Species :: |url=http://www.habitas.org.uk/priority/species.asp?item=100026 |access-date=2022-04-24 |website=www.habitas.org.uk}}</ref>

== Human uses == Fisheries around the world catch ''Zebrias'', which are marketed frozen, fresh, and dried-salted.<ref>{{FishBase |Zebrias|zebrinus |month=April|year=2019}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Soleidae Category:Marine fish genera Category:Taxa named by John Otterbein Snyder Category:Taxa named by David Starr Jordan