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O'opu
hi'ukole
(also known
in English as
Hiukole Goby and
Oopu Alamoo;
in Hawi'ian as O'opu h'iu kole, H'iu kole,
O'opu hi'u'ula,
Hi'u'ula,
O'opu nu'ukole and
Hu'ukole)
Lentipes concolor (Gill, 1860)
(previously identified as Lentipes seminudus (Günther,
1880) and Sicyogaster concolor (Gill, 1860)) |
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Males displaying
aggression or courtship behavior have the anterior half
of their body velvety black, the posterior half bright
reddish-orange and the fins whitish in color. Otherwise,
both males and females are olive to brown, with only
traces of two-tone color in the males. Both sexes with
bright blue eyes.
Of all the
species of O‘opu, L. concolor is found over the
widest range of altitudes, ranging from sea level to
1,000 meters above sea level. Mature individuals
usually reside in the middle to upper stream reaches at
elevations from 50 to more than 500 meters. Today, this
O‘opu is much less abundant than other species. It is
likely that critical habitat streams for L. concolor
make up less than half the total number of streams that
the species currently resides in.
L. concolor was
nominated for endangered species category 1 listing, but
unfortunately, listing was denied. Gut content analyses
indicate that algae composes a major portion of the diet
of L. concolor.
This species has the ability to scrape algae from
rocks, and is also capable of picking-biting and
filtering food particles from the water column and
sediments. It is likely that this O‘opu feeds mostly on
algae, but occasionally consumes invertebrates as well.
A study determined that the breeding season for this
species ranges from October to June, with a peak in late
winter and early spring. Nesting seems to take place
within the typical adult habitat of the species, and
there is no evidence of a spawning migration to breeding
grounds. Mature males are strongly aggressive and
territorial. During courtship, and when displaying
aggression, males take on a striking two tone color
pattern. The anterior of the fish becomes black, and
the posterior becomes orange. When not displaying, the
males return to a color pattern similar to that of
females. It is this sexual dimorphism that initially
led scientists to believe that two species of
Lentipes existed in Hawai‘i.
This O‘opu is endemic to Hawai‘i.
Information by Tara Sim from the
University of Hawai'i
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