Beaglichthys macrophthalmus Machida, 1993
Beagle cusk
photo by W. Schwarzhans & P. R. Møller

Family:  Dinematichthyidae (Viviparous brotula)
Max. size:  9.6 cm SL (male/unsexed); 7.8 cm SL (female)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: northern coast of Australia.to southern coast of New Guinea.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 1-1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 111-111; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 83-83; Vertebrae: 51-56. Thick skin covers the head and body. Scaly cheek. Snout, opercle and top of head without scales. Large, imbricate scales cover the body. Description: Characterized by violet greyish color; lighter ventrally and darker dorsally; caudal rays 12-14; vertebrae 14 + 37-42=51-56; eye 2.7-3.3 % SL; depth of body at anal fin origin 13.4-14.6 (mean 14.0) % SL; anterior nostril low on snout, next to upper lip; two pairs of pseudoclaspers, outer is wing-shaped with short backward directed tip, inner is about half as large with broadly expanded tip; no upper preopercular pore; posterior cheek with vertically elongate scale patch; opercular scales absent (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  A benthic species which occurs in inshore waters (Ref. 75154). Rare species and known from a single specimen (Ref. 34024). Size at birth 2.33 cm TL (Ref. 34024). Maximum length of female from Ref. 10898. Depth range unkown, probably confined to shallow reefs among rock and coral crevices (Ref 90102).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 16 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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