Teleostei (teleosts) >
Ophidiiformes (Cusk eels) >
Bythitidae (Livebearing brotulas)
Etymology: Cataetyx: Greek, kata = down + Greek, etix, stixo, stizo = to prick, to puncture.
More on author: Gilbert.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 300 - 1000 m (Ref. 34024). Deep-water; 46°N - 32°N
Eastern Pacific: northern Oregon, USA to Pacific coast of Baja California and the Gulf of California. Specimens from the Gulf of Panama and Chile either this species or still undescribed.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 15.7 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 38374)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 100 - 114; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 74 - 86; Vertebrae: 59 - 63. scales present on body and head; eye diameter less than snout length; prominent opercular spine present; lateral ethmoid bone developed as a sharp retrorse suborbital spine; palatine teeth present; 3 well developed rakers on first arch; male intromittent organ on a broad, fleshy pad or stalk (Ref. 38374); branchiostegal rays: 8 (Ref. 36488).
Locally abundant (Ref. 34024). Juveniles mesopelagic, larger individuals benthic at depths of 600 to 1,000 m (Ref. 34024). Ovoviviparous with planktonic larvae (Ref. 36488).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Ovoviviparous (Ref. 36488).
Nielsen, J.G., D.M. Cohen, D.F. Markle and C.R. Robins, 1999. Ophidiiform fishes of the world (Order Ophidiiformes). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of pearlfishes, cusk-eels, brotulas and other ophidiiform fishes known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(18):178p. Rome: FAO. (Ref. 34024)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
Tools
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Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 4.8 - 6.9, mean 5.3 °C (based on 9 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5002 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00457 (0.00179 - 0.01169), b=3.10 (2.87 - 3.33), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.4 ±0.5 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Assuming tmax>3).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).