Teleostei (teleosts) >
Lophiiformes (Anglerfishes) >
Ogcocephalidae (Batfishes)
Etymology: Malthopsis: Greek, malthe, es = a marine fish of soft flesh (Ref. 45335).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; pelagic-oceanic; depth range 183 - 670 m (Ref. 123774). Subtropical
Pacific Ocean: tropical; seamounts off Australia, New Caledonia, and New Zealand.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 7.5 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 123774)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal soft rays (total): 5 - 6; Anal soft rays: 4. This species is distinguished by the following characters: having stout principal bucklers with prominent spines; D 5-6; pectoral-fin rays 12; ventral surface with small bucklers and minute prickles; subopercular buckler have 3 small spinelets: one directed forward, another outward and third backward; few blunt spinelets on its margin; interspaces of principal bucklers covered with small buckler and prickles; pointed rostral spine, directed forward and upward (Ref. 92977).
Body shape (shape guide): other (see remarks); Cross section: flattened.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Ho, H.-C. and P. Last, 2021. Review of the batfish genus Malthopsis from Australia (Lophiformes: Ogcocephalidae), with descriptions of a five new species. Bull. Mar. Sci. 97(1):165-218. (Ref. 123774)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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