Hypoplectrus is a genus of fishes commonly known as hamlets, found mainly in coral reefs in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, particularly around Florida and the Bahamas. They are a popular choice for hobbyist saltwater aquariums, and come in a variety of colors.
Reproduction Hamlets are simultaneous hermaphrodites (or synchronous hermaphrodites): They have both male and female sexual organs at the same time as an adult, meaning that they function as a male and female, making them one of the few vertebrates that are male and female at the same time. They seem quite at ease mating in front of divers, allowing observations in the wild to occur readily. They do not practice self-fertilization, but when they find a mate, the pair takes turns between which one acts as the male and which acts as the female through multiple matings, usually over the course of several nights. Hamlets preferentially mate with individuals of their same color pattern.
Species There are currently 20 recognized species in this genus: +SpeciesCommon nameImageHypoplectrus aberrans Poey, 1868Yellowbelly hamletHypoplectrus affinis (Poey, 1861)Bluelip hamletHypoplectrus atlahua Tavera & Acero P, 2013Jarocho hamlet Hypoplectrus castroaguirrei Del-Moral-Flores, J. L. Tello-Musi & J. A. Martínez-Pérez, 2012Hypoplectrus chlorurus G. Cuvier, 1828Yellowtail hamletHypoplectrus ecosur Victor, 2012Spotted hamletHypoplectrus espinosai Puebla, Aguilar-Perera, Robertson & Domínguez-Domínguez, 2025Hypoplectrus floridae Victor, 2012Florida hamletHypoplectrus gemma Goode & T. H. Bean, 1882Blue hamletHypoplectrus gummigutta Poey, 1851Golden hamletHypoplectrus guttavarius Poey, 1852Shy hamletHypoplectrus indigo Poey, 1851Indigo hamletHypoplectrus liberte Victor & Marks 2018Striped hamletHypoplectrus maculiferus Poey, 1871Hypoplectrus maya Lobel, 2011 Maya hamletHypoplectrus nigricans Poey, 1852Black hamletHypoplectrus providencianus Acero P & Garzón-Ferreira, 1994Masked hamletHypoplectrus puella G. Cuvier, 1828Barred hamletHypoplectrus randallorum Lobel, 2011Tan hamletHypoplectrus unicolor Walbaum, 1792Butter hamlet
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