Alionematichthys piger (Alcock, 1890)
Whiskered viviparous brotula
Alionematichthys piger
photo by P.R. Møller & W. Schwarzhans

Family:  Dinematichthyidae (Viviparous brotula)
Max. size:  8.4 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 12 m
Distribution:  Eastern Indian Ocean to Western Central Pacific: Andaman Is. to Sumatra, Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan and the Ryukyu Is., north to Australia (up to Lord Howe I.) and eastwards to Micronesia, Line Is., Tuamotus and Pitcairn Group.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 72-88; Anal soft rays: 55-70; Vertebrae: 40-45. This species is distinguished by the following characters: D 72-88; A 55-70; moderately large eyes (1.7-2.8%SL); slender body; blunt snout, many cirri; cheeks with scales and rarely 1-2 scales above opercular spine; with upper preopercular pore; outer pseudoclasper broad-based, large, often extending beyond hood when in resting position, while the inner one is small, with equal anterior and posterior lobes; otolith length to height 1.9-2.1, with gently curved dorsal rim; otolith length to sulcus length 1.5-1.6, ostium length to caudal length 3.5-4.5; vertebrae 11-12 + 29-33 = 40-45 (Ref. 81230). Description: Characterized by uniform dark brown to blackish color; body depth at origin of anal fin 14.8-19.5 (mean 17.8) % SL; caudal rays 14-18; anterior nostril high on snout, about one-third or less distance from lip to anterior rim of eye (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Occurs in holes and crevices of coralline and volcanic rock (Ref. 71230). Cryptic and solitary in shallow water (<12 m) (Ref 90102).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 15 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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