Dermatopsis joergennielseni Møller & Schwarzhans, 2006
Nielsen's mudbrotula
photo by P.R. Møller & W. Schwarzhans

Family:  Dinematichthyidae (Viviparous brotula)
Max. size:  5.2 cm SL (male/unsexed); 5.7 cm SL (female)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 5 - 17 m
Distribution:  Southwest Pacific: New Zealand.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 76-85; Anal soft rays: 51-58; Vertebrae: 44-46. The species is characterized by the following: vertebrae 13-14 + 30-32 = 44-46, dorsal fin rays 76-85, anal fin rays 51-58; body with scales; posterior infraorbital pores 3; ventral spine on maxilla positioned behind rear of eye; single pair of pseudoclaspers straight, spiny, short, about half the length of penis, without fleshy appendices; otolith with rounded posterior tip and weak postdorsal angle, otolith length to height ratio 2.0, sulcus with nearly fused colliculi (Ref. 57886).
Biology:  Occurs on rocky shores down to 17 m, most commonly deeper than 5 m (Ref. 57886).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 16 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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