Epigonus lifouensis Okamoto & Motomura, 2013
Loyalty deepwater cardinalfish
photo by Okamoto, M.

Family:  Epigonidae (Deepwater cardinalfishes)
Max. size:  13.97 cm SL (male/unsexed); 20.25 cm SL (female)
Environment:  pelagic-oceanic; marine; depth range 500 - 575 m
Distribution:  Southwest Pacific: New Caledonia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 8-8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-10; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 9-9; Vertebrae: 25-25. This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: no opercular spine; ribs present on the last abdominal vertebra; absence of tooth on tongue, maxillary mustache-like process and tubercle on inner symphysis of lower jaw; elliptical eye; total gill rakers 24-25; vertebrae 10 + 15; pored lateral-line scales 48-49 + 3-4; D VII-I,10; pectoral-fin rays 18-19; pyloric caeca 10-13; body depth 17.0-17.1 % SL; posterior half of oral cavity and tongue black (Ref. 93890).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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