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Verilus pacificus (Mochizuki, 1979) |
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photo by
Justine, J.-L. |
| Family: | Malakichthyidae (Temperate ocean-basses) | |||
| Max. size: | 40 cm TL (male/unsexed) | |||
| Environment: | demersal; marine; depth range 60 - 500 m | |||
| Distribution: | Western Central Pacific: Japan, Taiwan and off Samoa Is., Fiji, Tuvalu and New Caledonia. | |||
| Diagnosis: | Dorsal spines (total): 10-10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-10; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 7-7; Vertebrae: 25-25. This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: lower jaw with a row of conical teeth posterior to a canine tooth near symphysis; absence of basioccipital fossa; proximal-middle radial of first anal-fin pterygiophore with no concavity on anterior surface; pectoral-fin rays 15; first gill arch with 14-15 gill rakers on lower arm; lateral-line scales 49-51 (Ref. 123567). | |||
| Biology: | Apparently occurs on rocky slopes of islands and seamounts (Ref. 37257). | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||