Brosmophycis marginata (Ayres, 1854)
Red brotula
photo by Gotshall, D.W.

Family:  Bythitidae (Livebearing brotulas)
Max. size:  46 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 3 - 256 m
Distribution:  Eastern Pacific: Petersburg, southeastern Alaska to Ensenada, northern Baja California, Mexico.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 98-110; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 72-81; Vertebrae: 63-65. Dorsal fin base covered with loose skin; caudal small and rounded; anal fin base covered with skin; pectorals rounded, almost pedunculate; two pelvic fin rays, outer ray of pelvic fins long, slender and filamentous, twice the length of inner ray (Ref. 6885). Bright red to brown on dorsal surface, nearly white on ventral surface of the body; pale red on ventral surface of head; margins of dorsal and anal fins red; bright red on caudal and pectoral fins; lips pink; mucus secretion reddish (Ref. 6885). Branchiostegal rays: 7 (Ref. 36488).
Biology:  A common cryptic species (Ref. 34024). Found in rocky areas (Ref. 2850). Live-bearers with planktonic larvae (Ref. 36488). Flesh considered sweet and fine-textured but rarely available (Ref. 27436).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 16 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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