| Centrophrynidae (Prickly Seadevils) |
| 1.28 cm SL (male/unsexed); 24.7 cm SL (female) |
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bathypelagic; marine; depth range 590 - 2325 m |
| Tropical and subtropical parts of all oceans. Eastern Atlantic: single record at 18°58'S, 10°14'W. North-eastern Atlantic: single record at 30°45'N, 14°30'W. |
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Dorsal soft rays (total): 6-7; Anal soft rays: 5-6. Distinguishing characteristics: larvae and juvenile with small digitiform hyoid barbel. Metamorphosed females: with single oval-shaped ovary; presence of supraethamoid; frontals are narrowly separated by cartilage along dorsal midline, each without ventromedial extension; presence of parietals, pterosphenoids, metapterygoids and mesopterygoids; absence of sphenotic spines; hyomandibula with double head; 2 hypohyals and 6(2+4) branchiostegal rays; bifurcated opercle; dorsal fork, short and less than 50% the length of ventral fork; long and slender subopercle with slender tapering upper end; well developed spine on anterior margin of lower end of subopercle; quadrate and articular spines present but minute; absence of angular and preopercular spines; jaws equal anteriorly, lower jaw with well-developed symphysial spine; absence of postmaxillary process of premaxilla; long and well developed anterior-maxillomandibular ligament; first pharyngobranchial present and suspensory in function; well-developed and toothed second and third pharyngobranchial; fourth pharyngobranchial absent; well ossified first, second and third hypobranchials, single ossified basibranchial; first epibranchial and all four ceratobranchials with teeth present; epurals absent; hypural plate deeply notched posteriorly; pterygiophore of illicium bears small ossified remnant of second cephalic spine; escal bulb contains central lumen with an escal pore leading to the exterior; tooth like denticles absent in esca; absence of posteroventral process of coracoid; presence of four pectoral radials, fusing to 3 in specimens greater than 150mm; pelvic bones present, slightly expanded distally; caudal rays 9 (2 simple+4 bifurcated+3 simple); numerous , close-set dermal spinules covering skin; pyloric caeca absent. Males: short hyoid barbel behind symphysis of lower jaw; small eyes, each without an aphakic space; relatively large olfactory organs; triangular shape of upper denticular plate, bearing a transverse series of 3 well-developed hooked denticles; crescent shaped lower denticular plate bearing transverse series of 4 strong, symmetrically placed denticles, fused at base; skin is naked, absence of dermal spinules. Larvae: short and deep; moderately inflated skin; short, digitiform hyoid barbel; moderate size of pectoral fins, not reaching base of dorsal and anal fins; pelvic fins absent (Ref. 086949). |
| Also mesopelagic. Males dwarfed, non-parasitic (Ref. 4493). 25 records from all oceans (Ref. 36124). |
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Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 10 July 2014 Ref. (130435)
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| harmless |
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