Teleostei (teleosts) >
Lophiiformes (Anglerfishes) >
Ogcocephalidae (Batfishes)
Etymology: Malthopsis: Greek, malthe, es = a marine fish of soft flesh (Ref. 45335); velutina: Named for its body covering, the fine bucklers and prickles forming a velvet-like integument; an adjective.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 280 - 448 m (Ref. 124115). Tropical
Eastern Central Pacific: French Polynesia (Marquesas Islands),
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 5.7 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 124115)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal soft rays (total): 5 - 7. This species is distinguished by the following: body covered with fine bucklers and prickles forming a velvet-like integument; with black patches on body surface, including upper portion of eye; rostral spine short (x? = 4.0% SL), blunt and directed upward rather than forward; subopercular buckler small, several spinules at its tip; large eye (x? = 13.7% SL); narrow interorbital space (x? = 5.3% SL); anal fin reaching caudal fin base when fully laid back; D 5-7, usually six (5-7) and pectoral-fin rays 12-13 (rarely 11) (Ref. 124115).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Ho, H.-C., 2020. Two new deep-water batfish of the genus Malthopsis from the Pacific Ocean (Lophiiformes: Ogcocephalidae). Raffles Bull. Zool. 68:859-869. (Ref. 124115)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = No PD50 data [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01479 (0.00517 - 0.04233), b=2.93 (2.68 - 3.18), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.2 ±0.5 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).