Rypticus is a genus of fish in the family Serranidae, the sea basses and groupers. It is one of several genera of soapfishes. These fish live in the Atlantic and eastern Pacific Oceans in tropical and warmer temperate zones.
The genus can be distinguished from the rest of the Serranidae by a few morphological details, such as its lack of anal fin spines. It also has only two to four dorsal fin spines; other serranids have more. The mouth is large and the lower jaw protrudes. The coloration varies, but usually a brown stripe runs from the mouth to the front of the dorsal fin.
Found singly often sitting motionless on rocks during the day over shallow mixed limestone, rock and sand bottoms of coral and rocky reefs, dispersing at night to hunt for food. They feed nocturnally on crustaceans and fish.
The skin of the tropical Atlantic soapfish Rypticus saponaceus (Bloch and Schneider) releases a foamy secretion, toxic to other fishes, when the animal is disturbed. The toxicity of this exudation has been studied using an assay employing fresh water guppies. Soapfish get their name from their ability when agitated to produce a toxic body mucus that forms a slimy, suds like lather. The toxic mucus serves as a deterrent to predators.
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