| Dinematichthyidae (Viviparous brotula) |
| 7.5 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
|
reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 10 m |
| Western Atlantic: widely distributed from the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. Appears to have a disjunct distribution: southernmost tip of the Yucatan Peninsula to Belize along the shores of Central America to Panama, and from off southernmost Florida to Haiti, Puerto Rico, Bahamas and the Antilles as far south as Dominica; so far, not known off Cuba, the Cayman Islands, Venezuela or Trinidad and Tobago. |
|
Dorsal soft rays (total): 66-82; Anal soft rays: 48-63; Vertebrae: 39-44. This species is distinguished by the following: Vertebrae 11-12 + 28-33 = 39-44, dorsal fin rays 66-82, anal fin rays 48-63; outer pseudoclasper a small triangular flap; inner pseudoclasper as long as or longer than the outer pseudoclasper, with narrow base and broad tip, penis tapering; opercular spine with single, sharp tip; scale patch on cheeks with 5-7 vertical scale rows; otolith length: height ratio 2.0-2.1, sulcus axis slightly inclined against otolith axis (Ref. 57883). |
| Inhabits rocky and coral reefs. A 44 mm SL female specimen (USNM 347360) contained 75 embryos, 5 mm TL, with about 8 small spots along dorsal fin base and about 6 elongate marks midlaterally; no eggs (Ref. 57883). |
|
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 29 January 2013 Ref. (130435)
|
| harmless |
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