| Family: |
Carapidae (Pearlfishes), subfamily: Carapinae |
| Max. size: |
20.8 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
demersal; marine; depth range 1 - 150 m, non-migratory |
| Distribution: |
Eastern Atlantic: including the Mediterranean. Probably south to Ascension Island. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal soft rays (total): 37-39. Eel-like, moderate to shallow body depth; cardiform teeth present but restricted to upper jaw symphysis; swim bladder constricted forming two chambers; lacking enlarged dentary or premaxillary fangs, dentary diastema, pelvic fins and swim bladder rockerbone (Ref. 34024). Possesses a free, movable maxilla (Ref. 6347). |
| Biology: |
Common species (Ref. 34024). Adults typically live as commensals in the gut of shallow-water holothurians, Holothuria tubulosa and Stichopus regalis (although some deep-water records exist, see Ref. 6347). Prejuveniles (tenuis larvae) probably inhabit the same host species while the vexillifer and egg-rafts are planktonic. The fish may partly protrude or entirely leave its host at night to feed on small fish and benthic invertebrates. Reproduction noted in July-September. (Ref. 4741). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 08 July 2014 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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