Canthigaster aziz Matsuura, Bogorodsky, Mal & Alpermann, 2020
Aziz's toby

Family:  Tetraodontidae (Puffers), subfamily: Canthigasterinae
Max. size:  2.04 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range - 350 m
Distribution:  Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea, Saudi Arabia..
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-8; Anal soft rays: 8-8; Vertebrae: 17-17. This species is distinguished by the following characters: D 8; A 8; pectoral-fin rays 15; vertebrae 8 + 9 =17; dorsal-fin origin opposite to anal-fin origin. Colouration: dorsal half of body light brown with concentrated dark pigments just behind eye, and longitudinal, irregular, pale golden stripe running above the mid-body from area just behind eye to dorsal edge of caudal peduncle; with 5 saddle-like diffuse black blotches along dark yellowish dorsal edge of body between nape and dorsal-fin origin; ventral half of the posterior part of body pinkish with tiny subcutaneous black spots; head and ventral half of body to anal-fin origin white with silver reflection; gill opening edged with pink; faint light yellowish line on snout from just behind upper lip to eye; lips is pinkish; iris golden; all fins are pale grey but mid-base of caudal fin with few black dots (Ref. 123151).
Biology:  This species was likely collected over hard substrata as the trawling gear was severely damaged during operation (Ref. 123151).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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