Onuxodon fowleri (Smith, 1955)
Members of the family Carapidae are often called pearlfishes because some live in pearl oysters. They typically shelter in the body cavities of invertebrate animals such as bivalves, sea cucumbers, sea stars and tunicates, wriggling into their hosts tail first. This particular species rests by day in large bivalves such as the Black-Lipped Pearl Oyster (Pinctada margaritifer) or pen shells (Pinna spp.). Transparent, with silvery organs and a dark smudge on the tail, it swims freely at night perhaps feeding on small crustaceans and bristle worms. Mated pairs sometimes inhabit the same host. The name honors pioneering American ichthyologist Henry W. Fowler (1879-1965), principle author of Fishes of Oceania, an enormous multivolume compendium published by Honolulu's Bishop Museum between 1928 and 1949. Photo: Hale`iwa Trench, O`ahu. 30 ft. (at night)