The recent discovery of a sleeper fish in Akita Prefecture, Japan, by researchers from the University of Tsukuba is a first for this area and the northernmost record for this species.
The recent discovery of a sleeper fish in Akita Prefecture, Japan, by researchers from the University of Tsukuba is a first for this area and the northernmost record for this species.
Ueda, Japan—The sleeper fish Eleotris oxycephala is found in freshwater streams and estuaries from tropical to temperate zones. The recent discovery of an individual of this species much further north than previously recorded suggests that the range of this species may be expanding in Japan.
In a study published this month, researchers from the University of Tsukuba report the discovery of a juvenile Eleotris oxycephala in Akita Prefecture in northern Japan. Eleotris oxycephala is an amphidromous fish, meaning that the fish are born in freshwater streams or estuaries, drift out to the ocean as larvae, and then migrate back to freshwater systems to live out their juvenile and adult stages. In Japan, Eleotris oxycephala has previously been found from the Osumi Islands in the south to Ishikawa and Fukushima prefectures in the north. The recent finding of a juvenile in the Yoneshiro River system in Akita Prefecture extends the known distribution of the species approximately 500 km northeast. associate administrator for science at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. "It was revolutionary to launch such a large telescope 30 years ago, and this astronomy powerhouse is still delivering revolutionary science today. Its spectacular images have captured the imagination for decades, and will continue to inspire humanity for years to come."
Read more at: University of Tsukuba
