| Tetrabrachiidae (Four-armed frogfishes) |
| 5.7 cm SL (male/unsexed); 5.6 cm SL (female) |
|
pelagic-neritic; marine; depth range 6 - 146 m |
| Eastern Indian Ocean to Western Pacific: Australia and Indonesia. |
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Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-15; Anal soft rays: 8-10; Vertebrae: 21-21. This species is distinguished by the following characters: pectoral fin entire rather than the rays divided into two distinct sections; considerably broader cranium, with more extensive lateral projections of the lateral ethmoids, sphenotics, and pterotics; frontals highly elevated, each with a prominent medial flange closely approaching its counterpart on the midline (forming a longitudinal, semi-closed, tube-like structure on the snout between the eyes), and a large anterolateral surface, forming (together with the respective sphenotic and lateral ethmoid) a deep, semi-circular, protective cavity for the eye; parietals conical and highly elevated, resulting in formation of a deep, central, cranial depression; vertebrae 21; posteriormost proximal radial of the dorsal and anal fins lying between the neural and haemal spines, respectively, of the fifth and sixth pre-ural centra; second and third dorsal-fin spines well developed; dorsal-fin rays 14-15; anal-fin rays 8-10; distal end of the third pectoral-fin radial relatively small; considerably longer pectoral-fin rays with longest ray 34.5-48.5%; pelvic bone and fin hypertrophied; an entirely different pigment pattern; oral cavity darkly pigmented; a conspicuous dark band on the dorsum just below the soft dorsal fin, a dark bar across the caudal peduncle and base of the tail, no ocelli-like spots (Ref. 82431). |
| Specimens collected by epibenthic sled, dredge, otter trawl or prawn trawl over soft-bottom substrates of mud or sand. Apparently rare, with solitary individuals widely dispersed. (Ref. 82431). |
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Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 13 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
|
| harmless |
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Known from Western Australia, Nothern Territory and Queensland. Apparently less common in the Gulf of Carpentaria (3 known specimens), where it was first
discovered, than in the Torres Strait and off the east coast (with 31 specimens) (Ref. 82431). |
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