Ungusurculus riauensis Schwarzhans & Møller, 2007
Riau viviparous brotula
photo by W. Schwarzhans & P. R. Møller

Family:  Dinematichthyidae (Viviparous brotula)
Max. size:  4.7 cm SL (male/unsexed); 5.6 cm SL (female)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 5 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: restricted to the Indonesian Riau Archipelago and Singapore.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 70-77; Anal soft rays: 53-61; Vertebrae: 40-42. This species is diagnosed by the following characters: D 70-77, A 53-61, D/A 20-23, V in D 1.9-2.2; vertebrae 12+28-30=40-42; anterior nostril 1/4 distance from upper lip to aggregate distance to anterior margin of eye; free pseudoclaspers 2 pairs, the outer pseudoclasper wingshaped with broad base and distally widened supporter with massive anterior hook, prominent knob on inner face of outer pseudoclasper fitting into opening of inner pseudoclasper, the inner one long, massive, stalked, distally with claw-like, outwardly directed strong spines; cheeks with 5 scale rows on upper part and 3 rows on lower; no upper preopercular pore; otolith moderately elongate, its length to height is 2.0-2.2, pointed anterior tip, expanded posterior tip, sharp postdorsal angle, bent outwards, short sulcus with small ventral indentation at joining of ostium and cauda but completely fused colliculi, its centre anterior to centre of otolith, inclined about 10°, otolith length to sulcus length is 2.1 (Ref. 76869).
Biology:  Cryptic ans solitary, inhabitant of reef crevices in about 0-5 m (Ref 90102).
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 15 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans: 


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