Alionematichthys ceylonensis Møller & Schwarzhans, 2008

Family:  Dinematichthyidae (Viviparous brotula)
Max. size:  7.2 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine
Distribution:  Eastern Indian Ocean: Sri Lanka.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 75-83; Anal soft rays: 57-65; Vertebrae: 41-43. This species is distinct in having the following characters: D 75-83 (average 79); A 57-65 (average 60); moderately large eyes (2-2.8%SL); rounded snout, no cirri; only cheeks with scales; no upper preopercular pore; outer pseudoclasper broad-based, triangular, with distal knob on inner side, while the inner one with symmetrically developed anterior pointed lobe and posterior lobe resembling in shape a socket fitting to small knob on inner face of outer pseudoclasper; otolith length to height 2.3-2.4, with shallow dorsal rim; otolith length to sulcus length 1.5-1.6, ostium length to cauda length 3.3-4.0; vertebrae 11-12 + 29-31 = 41-43 (Ref. 81230).
Biology:  A 5.3 cm SL gravid female (USNM 394975) with 80 embryos, 0.48 cm TL in length, and 60 orange eggs, 0.07 cm in diameter (Ref. 81230).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 16 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.