Pterygotrigla andertoni Waite, 1910
Painted latchet
Pterygotrigla andertoni
photo by Graham, K.

Family:  Triglidae (Searobins), subfamily: Pterygotriglinae
Max. size:  38 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 90 - 500 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: New Caledonia, New Zealand (North and South Islands); eastward on the Challenger Plateau (but not been taken around the Chatham Is.), Australia (from Saumarez Reef (Queensland) to Bass Strait; unconfirmed report from the center of the Great Australian Bight west to Fremantle, Western Australia)
Diagnosis:  Head large, triangular. No spines around orbit; nasal spine absent, opercular spine long, nuchal spine long, rostral spines strong but short, no antrorse rostral spine, cleithral spine long. Base of first dorsal fin with 10 flat plates, first plate extends in advance of first dorsal-fin spine. Lateral line scales small, more than 70 rows. Head and dorsum covered with prominent black spots.
Biology:  Found on the continental shelf and continental slope. Benthic (Ref. 75154). Excellent food fish but rarely caught (Ref. 9771).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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