Cocotropus larvatus Poss & Allen, 1987
Ghost velvetfish
photo by Johnson, S.

Family:  Aploactinidae (Velvetfishes)
Max. size:  7.06 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 4 - 40 m
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: East Andaman Sea and Christmas Island to Marshall Islands; north to Ryukyu Islands; south to Indonesia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 13-13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-10; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 8-9; Vertebrae: 26-27. Description: Characterized by having generally grey color; head with scattered brown spots; fins with irregular brownish spots; origin of dorsal fin above middle of eye; distinctly concave snout and interorbital; two small spines on lacrimal; five blunt spines on rear margin of preopercle; body extremely compresses laterally, depth 2.8-3.2 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Inhabits sand and rubble areas of seaward reefs (Ref. 34765). Minimum depth from Ref. 49352. Solitary and cryptic (Ref 90102).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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