| Family: |
Bythitidae (Livebearing brotulas) |
| Max. size: |
10.3 cm SL (male/unsexed); 10.9 cm SL (female) |
| Environment: |
bathydemersal; marine; depth range 2610 - 4440 m |
| Distribution: |
West and East Central Atlantic: Sargasso Sea and the Caribbean Sea.
Pacific Ocean: Australia (Ref, 128809). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal soft rays (total): 75-81; Anal soft rays: 53-56; Vertebrae: 68-71. This species is distinguished from is congeners by the following characters: first gill arch with 3-4 developed gill rakers; D 75-81; precaudal vertebrae 31-32; anal fin origin below vertebrae 32-36. Colouration: black pigmentation laterally in the roof of the mouth, very distinct from the outside as a black area half the head length between the eye and the upper jaw (Ref. 105129). |
| Biology: |
A rare species (Ref. 34024). Viviparous (Ref. 6527). All four male specimens with developed reproductive organ indicating internal fertilization, and a tentatively referred specimen is a female with distended, 15 mm long ovaries containing large eggs (0.7 mm) (Ref. 105129). A ripe female with eggs (ca. 1 mm diameter), caught in Hunter Commonwealth Marine Reserve, NSW, is the largest known specimen (Ref. 128809). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 08 July 2014 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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