Melanocetus murrayi Günther, 1887
Murray's abyssal anglerfish
photo by Ho, H.-C.

Family:  Melanocetidae (Black Seadevils)
Max. size:  2 cm TL (male/unsexed); 12 cm TL (female)
Environment:  bathypelagic; marine; depth range 100 - 6370 m
Distribution:  Tropical to temperate parts of all oceans.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-14; Anal soft rays: 4-4. Distinguishing characteristics of metamorphosed female: deeply concave anterior margin of vomer, least outside width between frontals 9.1-17.8% SL; upper jaw with 34-178 teeth, lower jaw 46-142 teeth; length of longest tooth in lower jaw 7.7-16.7% SL; width of pectoral fin lobe 6.1-8.9% SL; width of escal bulb 1.9-5.1% SL; length of illicium 23.1-37.2% SL; esca with minute crests or absent; skin with minute spinules restricted to caudal peduncle; relatively thin integument 0.48 mm (Ref. 86949). Distinguishing characteristics of metamorphosed male: upper denticular with 9-12 ventrally directed anterior teeth and posteromedial series of 3-5 teeth; lower denticular 10-13 teeth; posterior nostril contiguous with eye; 12-14 olfactory lamellae; skin naked or with few scattered dermal spinules (Ref. 86949).
Biology:  Meso- (Ref. 58302) and bathypelagic (Ref. 58302, 75154). Males dwarfed, non-parasitic (Ref. 4491).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 09 May 2013 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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