| Family: |
Tetrabrachiidae (Four-armed frogfishes) |
| Max. size: |
5.7 cm SL (male/unsexed); 5.6 cm SL (female) |
| Environment: |
pelagic-neritic; marine; depth range 6 - 146 m |
| Distribution: |
Eastern Indian Ocean to Western Pacific: Australia and Indonesia. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-15; Anal soft rays: 8-10; Vertebrae: 21-21. This species is distinguished by the following characters: pectoral fin entire rather than the rays divided into two distinct sections; considerably broader cranium, with more extensive lateral projections of the lateral ethmoids, sphenotics, and pterotics; frontals highly elevated, each with a prominent medial flange closely approaching its counterpart on the midline (forming a longitudinal, semi-closed, tube-like structure on the snout between the eyes), and a large anterolateral surface, forming (together with the respective sphenotic and lateral ethmoid) a deep, semi-circular, protective cavity for the eye; parietals conical and highly elevated, resulting in formation of a deep, central, cranial depression; vertebrae 21; posteriormost proximal radial of the dorsal and anal fins lying between the neural and haemal spines, respectively, of the fifth and sixth pre-ural centra; second and third dorsal-fin spines well developed; dorsal-fin rays 14-15; anal-fin rays 8-10; distal end of the third pectoral-fin radial relatively small; considerably longer pectoral-fin rays with longest ray 34.5-48.5%; pelvic bone and fin hypertrophied; an entirely different pigment pattern; oral cavity darkly pigmented; a conspicuous dark band on the dorsum just below the soft dorsal fin, a dark bar across the caudal peduncle and base of the tail, no ocelli-like spots (Ref. 82431). |
| Biology: |
Specimens collected by epibenthic sled, dredge, otter trawl or prawn trawl over soft-bottom substrates of mud or sand. Apparently rare, with solitary individuals widely dispersed. (Ref. 82431). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 13 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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