Ceratias uranoscopus Murray, 1877
Stargazing seadevil
Ceratias uranoscopus
photo by Pohl, R.E.

Family:  Ceratiidae (Warty Seadevils)
Max. size:  24 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathypelagic; marine; depth range 0 - 2091 m
Distribution:  Circumglobal: In tropical waters. Western to eastern Central Atlantic. Deep sea (Ref. 4494). Reported from Indian and Pacific oceans (Ref. 58302).
Diagnosis:  Characterized by female having simple esca, without distal escal appendages, illicium length 14.0 to 28.8% SL, invariably absent vomerine teeth; escal bulb usually darkly pigmented except distal tip, distal portion oval shaped, proximal portion tapering into stem of illicium; bulb without elevation of small pigment spot surrounding escal pore (Ref. 086949).
Biology:  Also mesopelagic (Ref. 4494).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 09 May 2013 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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