Schindleria brevipinguis Watson & Walker, 2004
Stout infantfish
Schindleria brevipinguis
photo by Australian Museum

Family:  Schindleriidae (Infantfishes)
Max. size:  0.84 cm SL (female)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 15 - 30 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Australia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-13; Anal soft rays: 10-11; Vertebrae: 35-36. Body small, stout, unpigmented. Body depth at pectoral-fin origin 9-12% of standard length and at anal-fin origin 9-14% SL. First dorsal-fin ray at myomere 18-20 and first anal-fin ray below dorsal-fin ray 4. Vertebrae 20 + 15-16 = 35-36, myomeres 19-20 + 14-16 = 34-36. Premaxillae and dentaries lack teeth. Males have a rod-like, flexible urogenital papilla lacking lobes, projections, or accessory papillae, with distal half tapering to a blunt point and usually anteriorly directed.
Biology:  Recently reported as the smallest vertebrate. Males average 7.7 millimeters long and the gravid female which is 8.4 millimeters weighed 1 milligram. This pedomorphic species has a life span of only 2 months, has dispensed its fishy appendages such as teeth and scales, and has no pigment except in the eyes (Ref. 52508). Specimens were collected in oblique plankton net tows (Ref. 52019).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 04 February 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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