| Family: |
Dinematichthyidae (Viviparous brotula) |
| Max. size: |
7 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 10 m |
| Distribution: |
Southeast Pacific: Galapagos Islands. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal soft rays (total): 68-80; Anal soft rays: 51-59; Vertebrae: 39-43. This species is characterized by the following: vertebrae 11-12 + 27-31 = 39-43, dorsal fin rays 68-80, anal fin rays 51-59; outer pseudoclasper with a broad base and long supporter with sharp, pointed tip; inner pseudoclasper is anteriorly inclined, of about length of outer pseudoclasper, with sharp, spine-like tip anteriorly and fleshy flap posteriorly; isthmus between pseudoclaspers wide, penis with abrupt change in thickness; opercular spine with a single, sharp tip; cheeks naked or with few isolated scales (less than 10 scales all together); otolith length: height ratio 2.1-2.2; upper preopercular pore absent (Ref. 57883). |
| Biology: |
Inhabits rocky crevices (Ref. 11482). Two paratypes that were collected at low tide between blocks of lava in about 50 cm of water, were observed to move slowly close to the sand bottom. Experiments that were carried out showed that O. deroyi can tolerate a wide
variation in salinity, but not the low salinity in which O. galapagosensis lives. Consequently, there is an ecological barrier separating the two species. Only about five embryos were observed in ripe females (Ref. 57883). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 29 April 2008 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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