Prognatholiparis ptychomandibularis Orr & Busby, 2001
Wrinkle-jaw snailfish

Family:  Liparidae (Snailfishes)
Max. size:  8.8 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range - 455 m
Distribution:  Northeast Pacific: Seguam Pass, east of Seguam Island.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 37-37; Anal soft rays: 30-30; Vertebrae: 41-41. This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: projecting lower jaw anterior to upper jaw; distinct flaps and folds of skin on snout, upper jaw, and ventral portion of mandible; large pelvic disc 37.4% HL; slender body; depth at pectoral fin base 20.5% SL, at anal-fin origin 19.0% SL; 2-6-8-1 pattern of cephalic lateralis pores, no coronal and post coronal pores; 2 epurals that are fused at the base; autogenous hypural plates; with pleural ribs; no pseudobranchiae; no subcutaneous layer; no pyloric caeca (Ref. 57784).
Biology:  Species typical of moderately deep waters. Holotype had ostracods and rocks found in its stomach (Ref. 57784). Minimum depth from Ref. 58018.
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 04 February 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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