Symphysanodon mona Anderson & Springer, 2005
Akarnax Slopefish

Family:  Symphysanodontidae (Slopefishes)
Max. size:  8.6 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic-oceanic; marine; depth range - 384 m
Distribution:  Western Central Atlantic: known only from the type locality: Mona Passage off the west coast of Puerto Rico.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-10; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 7-7; Vertebrae: 25-25. The species differs from all other species of the genus in having fewer gillrakers on first arch (4 or 5 + 19-21 = 24 or 25 total vs. 8-14 + 20-29 = 28-42 total). In addition, it differs from other Atlantic species in having a ventral branch of obliquus dorsalis 3 muscle (vs. its absence in the other two species) and in having a posteriorly projecting extension of the cartilaginous lateral end of ceratobranchial 4 (vs. its absence in the other two species; S. berryi has a small accessory cartilage associated with the lateral end of ceratobranchial 4; the specimen of S. octoactinus examined may have had a very small accessory cartilage that was lost during dissection).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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