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Gunnellichthys curiosus Dawson, 1968 Curious wormfish |
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photo by
Ryanskiy, A. |
| Family: | Microdesmidae (Wormfishes), subfamily: Microdesminae | |||
| Max. size: | 12 cm SL (male/unsexed) | |||
| Environment: | reef-associated; marine; depth range 9 - 60 m | |||
| Distribution: | Indo-Pacific: Seychelles and Mauritius to the Hawaiian and Society islands. | |||
| Diagnosis: | Dorsal spines (total): 20-21; Dorsal soft rays (total): 40-42; Anal soft rays: 38-40. Description: Characterized by pale bluish body color; broad orange stripe from snout to caudal base; presence of small black spot posteriorly on opercle; caudal fin base with large black spot; top of head with scales extending to nostrils; scaled cheek and opercle; origin of dorsal fin above anterior third of pectoral fin; rounded caudal fin; depth of body 10-13 in SL (Ref. 90102). | |||
| Biology: | Found over sand and rubble slopes (Ref. 48637, 58302) or mud bottoms and take refuge in burrows (Ref. 2334). Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Solitary or paired. Feed primarily on benthic and pelagic crustaceans (Ref. 37816). | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 12 March 2015 Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||