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Bleekeria murtii Joshi, Zacharia & Kanthan, 2012 Murty's sandlance |
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photo by
Paramasivam, K. |
| Family: | Ammodytidae (Sand lances) | |||
| Max. size: | 16 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 17.9 g | |||
| Environment: | benthopelagic; marine; depth range 20 - 50 m | |||
| Distribution: | Eastern Indian Ocean: India. | |||
| Diagnosis: | Dorsal soft rays (total): 34-49; Anal soft rays: 12-16; Vertebrae: 56-75. This torpedo-shaped species is distinguished by the following characters: lower jaw protruding than upper jaw; D 34-49; A 12-16; total vertebrae 56-75; lateral line scales 80-108; pelvic fins absent; no scales from a medium band anterior to the dorsal fin and from the musculature at the base of caudal fin; longer head length, shallower body width and different colour pattern compared to its congeners (Ref. 93118). | |||
| Biology: | Found over sandy bottoms; form schools and protect themselves from their predators (tuna Euthynnus affinis and carangids) by burrowing (Ref. 93118). | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||