| Family: |
Bythitidae (Livebearing brotulas) |
| Max. size: |
15.5 cm SL (male/unsexed); 14.5 cm SL (female) |
| Environment: |
bathypelagic; marine; depth range 1075 - 4280 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-West Pacific: off Madagascar, off South China Sea and off Vanuatu; including Australia. |
| Diagnosis: |
This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: 11-15 long gill rakers long on anterior gill arch; pectoral-fin rays 13-17, preanal length 49.5-60 % of SL, anterior anal fin ray is below dorsal fin ray nos. 14-19; dorsal fin orgin above vertebra nos. 18-22; precaudal vertebrae 26-30; absence of black pigmentation laterally in roof of mouth (Ref. 105129, 128809). |
| Biology: |
A rare species (Ref.34024). All six specimens collected were caught in bottom fishing gear. Presence of a penis and spermatozoans arranged in spermatophores (Nielsen 1974, Ref. 40903:182) indicate interior fertilization. The eggs were up to 0.7 mm in diameter, but embryos were not observed (Ref. 105129). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 16 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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