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While Genie loved sharks and came to be known as “the Shark Lady,” she studied all different kinds of fish, including plectognaths (a group of tropical, spiny fish including puffers and triggerfish), garden eels, and “convict fish” (Pholidichthys leucotaenia).
Pholidichthys leucotaenia - sometimes called convict blennies or engineer gobies, though they are neither blennies nor gobies - are unique fish which live in burrows. The adults spend their days cleaning out the burrow, which they never leave. The juveniles spend their days searching for food to bring back to the adults - something which is unique not only among fish, but in the entire animal kingdom.
Stomatopod and Goby area. Green Island, Massawa, Eritrea, 1971.
Photo by James Stanfield
Photo by James Stanfield
Xyrichtys pavo (peacock wrasse or blue razorfish), Ras Mohamad, Egypt, 1986.
Photo by Rouby
Photo by Rouby
Genie discovered several new species of fish including a species of sand-diver (Trichonotus nikii ) and the Red Sea Moses sole (Pardachirus marmoratus) which produces a natural shark repellent.
If there was a fish-related mystery, Genie was interested in solving it. "I just love riddles, especially when they deal with fish."
"I just love riddles, especially when they deal with fish."
- Dr. Eugenie Clark
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