Pyramodon punctatus (Regan, 1914)
Dogtooth pearlfish
photo by Parmentier, E.

Family:  Carapidae (Pearlfishes), subfamily: Pyramodontinae
Max. size:  29 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; marine; depth range 120 - 731 m
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: off East London, South Africa; Australia and New Zealand.
Diagnosis:  Eel-like, moderate to relatively deep body depth; a large single vomerine fang; pelvic fin rays present; swim bladder large, filling visceral cavity and extending past anus; dorsal and anal fin radials robust and elongate; dorsal fin anteriad or directly over anal fin origin; lacking rockerbone, cardiform teeth, and intrinsic swim bladder constrictions or tunic ridges (Ref. 34024). Body lightly pigmented with dorsal and anal fin margins pigmented over posterior quarter; precaudal vertebrae 17-19; anus more posterior with distance from snout to anus 130 to 151% head length (Ref. 34024).
Biology:  A benthic (Ref. 75154) and rare species (Ref. 34024). Probably a free-living species of the outer shelf and upper continental slope.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 16 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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