Alionematichthys crassiceps Møller & Schwarzhans, 2008
Bighead viviparous brotula
Alionematichthys crassiceps
photo by W. Schwarzhans & P. R. Møller

Family:  Dinematichthyidae (Viviparous brotula)
Max. size:  6.3 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 5 m
Distribution:  Eastern Indian Ocean: Western Australia (Ref. 88966). Western Pacific: along oceanic islands, from Micronesia (Palau, Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kapingamarangi Atoll), Hermit I., and the Kiriwina (Trobriand) Is., New Guinea, Vanuatu, Fiji to Tonga. Probable records from Taiwan (NW Pacific).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 72-81; Anal soft rays: 57-64; Vertebrae: 41-43. This species is distinguished by the following characters: ; D 72-81; A 57-64; small eyes (1.3-2.5%SL); blunt snout, no cirri; cheeks with scales and 3-10 scales above opercular spine; with upper preopercular pore; outer pseudoclasper broad-based, simple flap like, while the inner one with free, forward-pointing anterior lobe and broad posterior lobe; otolith length to height 1.9-2.0, with rounded dorsal rim; otolith length to sulcus length 1.7-1.8, very short caudal, ostium length to cauda length 4.5-5.0 (Ref. 81230).
Biology:  Cryptic, solitary inhabitant of shallow water, usually in rocky crevices (Ref. 90102). A 5.6 cm SL gravid female (USNM 394976) with 95 embryos, 0.41 cm TL in length, and approximately 50 orange eggs, 0.06 cm in diameter (Ref. 81230).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 16 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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