| Family: |
Bythitidae (Livebearing brotulas) |
| Max. size: |
4 cm SL (male/unsexed); 4.07 cm SL (female) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 55 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-Pacific: South Africa to the Red Sea and from the Philippines to Cape York Peninsula in northern Australia; widely distributed and large gap in the distribution is probably a collecting artefact rather than indicative of a true distribution. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal soft rays (total): 61-70; Anal soft rays: 50-57; Vertebrae: 44-47. This species is distinguished by the following characters: vertebrae 11-12+33-35=44-47; fin rays, on dorsal 61-70, anal 50-57, pectoral 15-17, caudal 7-8; anterior dorsal fin ray above vertebra number 7-8, anterior anal fin ray below dorsal fin ray number 12-16, anterior anal fin ray below vertebra 13-16; small forward-curved spine at lower angle of preopercle, hidden by skin; fleshy interorbital width 4.5-7.0% SL; palatine teeth papillae-like or absent (Ref. 88975).
Description: Characterized by eye diameter 16.0-18.7% head length; predorsal length 34.4-39.9% SL; cheek, opercle and occiput with patchy scales (Ref. 90102). |
| Biology: |
Found from near the surface to 55 meters in protected reef structures (Ref. 54832). Solitary inhabitant of reef crevices, cryptic (Ref 90102). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 16 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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