Ichthyologist Charles C. Abbott reportedly coined the name because a
specimen he had in an aquarium ate only other fish.
To me, the fish's specific name is one of the funniest. It's named after
naturalist Thomas Say and the fish's distinctive migratory anus. How would
you like YOUR name forever associated with anus? Stallsmithanus. Ellisanus.
Denkhausanus. I could go on and on... :-)
> Also, has anyone heard of this species being propagated in captivity? (Aside
> from the two cases where Ray Katula bred them).
See Fontenot, Q. C. and D. A. Rutherford. 1999. Observations on the
reproductive ecology of pirate perch Aphredoderus sayanus. Journal of
Freshwater Ecology 14 (4): 545-549. [Summarized in Spring 2000 AC.]
See also John Brill's article in the Oct-Dec 1977 AC.
Chris Scharpfanus
Baltimore
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