| Family: |
Dinematichthyidae (Viviparous brotula) |
| Max. size: |
5.9 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 15 m |
| Distribution: |
Eastern Pacific: off Colombia to the Gulf of Panama in the south; off Mazatlan, southern Sinaloa province, Mexico, in the north. So far not recorded from the region in between. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal soft rays (total): 63-73; Anal soft rays: 47-54; Vertebrae: 38-41. The species is distinguished by the following: Vertebrae 11-12 + 27-30 = 38-41, dorsal fin rays 63-73, anal fin rays 47-54, outer pseudoclasper very slender, long, wing-shaped, slightly expanded posterodistally, and with single, almost straight supporter; inner pseudoclasper long, stalked, distally with three branches, anterior branch curved, median branch stout, posterior branch fleshy ear-lobed flap; penis tapering; opercular spine with single, sharp tip in
small specimens and furcated (2-3 tips) in specimens greater than 45 mm SL; scale patch on cheeks with 7-8 vertical scale rows; otolith length: height ratio 2.4-2.5 (Ref. 57883). |
| Biology: |
Inhabits coral and rocky reefs. A 5.9 cm SL female (USNM 263738) contains about 60 eggs, 0.4-0.6 mm in diameter and 140 embryos, 4-5 mm TL, with 2 rows of 2-3 large spots along anal and dorsal fin bases (Ref. 57883). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 29 April 2008 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.