User:Iabundez/Dichotomyctere nigroviridis

Article Draft
Dichotomyctere nigroviridis (syn. Tetraodon nigroviridis) is one of the pufferfish known as the green spotted puffer. It is found across South and Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Indochina, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Adults spend most of their time in the ocean and maybe found in slow-moving rivers in coastal freshwater. They survive the longest in brackish to saltwater, and brackish water habitats.If cared for properly, the D.nigroviridis can live approximately 10-15 years, D. nigroviridis reaches a typical maximum length of about 15 cm (6 in) ( 5.9 in), with reports of up to 17 cm (6.7 in). In February 2009, it was successfully bred in captivity at University of Florida using a new variation of the ovarian lavage technique.

In the aquarium[edit]
Dichotomyctere nigroviridis is frequently raised in aquariums. However, the species' aggressive nature limits its ability to be housed with other fish.They are known for noticing signs of weakness and can and will eat other fish. Dichotomyctere nigrovirdis is also known for its habit of fin nipping. In captivity, specimens can grow up to 10 cm in length. The species is an omnivorous brackish water species and is most commonly raised in water with a pH level of 8. It is recommended that the species live in  a tank of at least 30 gallons or more. This species begins life in brackish water and progresses to saltwater as it becomes an adult. In human care, overfeeding can be potentially lethal.

Ecology[edit]
Adults of D. nigroviridis are found in freshwater streams, rivers, and floodplains; young are found in brackish water. They are also found in mangrove forests. Their diet consists primarily of snails, but includes mollusks, crustaceans, and some plant material. The species has a powerful beak which allows them to eat other species that have a hard protective shell .This species may also be lepidophagous.Its flesh contains a virulent toxin, and should not be eaten.

Genetics[edit]
D. nigroviridis has the smallest known vertebrate genome, roughly 340 million base pairs, and has thus been selected as a model organism for genetics.The D. nigroviridis uses its pectoral fin to move around which allows it to swim back and forth since it has no pelvic fin. In 2004, a draft of its genome sequence was published. The D. nigroviridis is known for puffing up like a balloon when frightened or endangered. The green spotted puffer fish has no pelvic fin. It uses its pectoral fin to move around at fast speeds.

Colour[edit]
D. nigroviridis is green on the body with black spots. Its belly is white and its fins and tail are light green.[ citation needed]

Commercial importance[edit]
D. nigroviridis is by no means a food fish, but has some value as bait and is very widely traded as an aquarium fish, and is sometimes mistaken as Dichotomyctere fluviatilis. D. nigroviridis also has some value as a lab animal, in particular in genetics, because it has the same number of genes as human beings, but in a genome about one-tenth the size.