Carapus sluiteri (Weber, 1905)
Sluiter's pearlfish

Family:  Carapidae (Pearlfishes), subfamily: Carapinae
Max. size:  10 cm TL (female)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 27 - 34 m, non-migratory
Distribution:  Western Central Pacific: Timor-Leste, Indonesia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 38-38; Anal soft rays: 50-50. Eel-like, moderate to shallow body depth; cardiform teeth present but restricted to upper jaw symphysis; swim bladder constricted (under vertebrae 13) forming two chambers; lacking enlarged dentary or premaxillary fangs, dentary diastema, pelvic fins and swim bladder rockerbone (Ref. 34024). Description: Characterized by generally translucent color; brain and snout with large stellate melanophores; silvery patches on operculum; length of pectoral fin 2.1 in head length; depth of body 13.5 in TL; anus anterior to base of pectoral fin; head length 7.2 in TL; free and movable maxilla, not covered by skin and toothless; premaxilla with outer row of cardiform teeth, and smaller, conical inner teeth; band of small and blunt conical teeth in lower jaw; five large teeth surrounded by smaller conical teeth in vomer; band of short, stout conical teeth in palatines (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Rare species (Ref. 34024). Ascidian commensal (Ref. 34024).
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 16 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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