Spiniphryne gladisfenae (Beebe, 1932)
Prickly dreamer
photo by Ho, H.-C.

Family:  Oneirodidae (Dreamers)
Max. size:  12.6 cm SL (female)
Environment:  bathypelagic; marine; depth range - 1955 m
Distribution:  Atlantic Ocean: three records known from the eastern central Atlantic; one record from the western Atlantic.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 6-7; Anal soft rays: 4-6. Distinguishing characteristics: esca with 2 bulbous, narrowly based, distal appendages, anterior-most appendage approximately two-thirds to one-half length of posterior most, each covered with small digitiform papillae and clusters of tiny filaments around base; absence of bulbous distal prolongation; large, anteroposteriorly compressed, posterior escal appendage, divided along its distal margin into 3 or more lobes or several to many slender filaments; absence of posterolateral filaments; total number of teeth in upper jaw 21-42, lower jaw with 25-45 teeth; vomerine teeth 4-8; length of illicium 7.8-13.3% SL; head length 25.7-31.8; head width 14.5-19.7; head depth 26.2-32.7; length of premaxilla 17.6-21.6; length of lower jaw 21.8-31.0 (Ref. 86949).
Biology:  Bathypelagic; feeds on fishes and crustaceans (Ref. 58426).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 08 July 2014 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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