Teleostei (teleosts) >
Ophidiiformes (Cusk eels) >
Bythitidae (Livebearing brotulas)
Etymology: Microbrotula: Greek, mikros = small + Latin, brotula, -ae = little, bud, shoot (Ref. 45335); andersoni: Named for M. Eric Anderson for his contribution to knowledge of the genus Microbrotula.
Eponymy: Dr Michael Eric Anderson is an American ichthyologist. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on authors: Schwarzhans & Nielsen.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range 40 - 45 m (Ref. 88975). Tropical
Eastern Indian Ocean, Christmas Island.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 5.2 cm SL (female)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal soft rays (total): 70; Anal soft rays: 59; Vertebrae: 46. This species is distinguished by the following characters: vertebrae 11+35=46, fin rays, dorsal 70, anal 59, pectoral 19, caudal 8; anterior dorsal fin ray above vertebra 8; anterior anal fin ray below dorsal fin ray 14; anterior anal fin ray below vertebra 13; head with separated scale patches on cheeks, operculum and occiput; papillae confined on anterior part of head; hidden, forward-curved spine at lower angle of preopercle; posterior mandibular pores 3, lower preopercular pores 2; no palatine teeth; otolith shape anteriorly expanded, otolith length to otolith height 2.1, otolith length to colliculum length 2.8 (Ref. 88975).
Body shape (shape guide): elongated.
Cryptic, solitary inhabitant of reef crevices (Ref. 90102).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Schwarzhans, W. and J.G. Nielsen, 2011. Revision of the genus Microbrotula (Teleostei: Bythitidae), with description of two new species and a related new genus. The Beagle, Records of the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory 27:147-160. (Ref. 88975)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
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