Tuamotuichthys marshallensis Nielsen, Schwarzhans, Møller & Randall, 2006
Marshall slopebrotula

Family:  Bythitidae (Livebearing brotulas)
Max. size:  12 cm SL (female)
Environment:  bathypelagic; marine; depth range 46 - 536 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Marshall Islands.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 78-81; Anal soft rays: 62-62; Vertebrae: 47-49. Tuamotuichthys marshallensisdiffers from T. bispinosus in the following characters: downward-directed part of the opercular spine hidden (vs. free); precaudal vertebrae 11 ( vs. 13); dorsal fin origin above vertebra no. 5 (vs. no. 8); hypobranchial rakers of anterior gill arch developed as one large or five smaller plates provided with small spines (vs. hypobranchial without rakers or plates); soft interorbital 5.8-6.3 % SL (vs. 3.8 % SL); maximum head depth 20.0–-1.5 % SL (vs. 13.5 % SL); body depth at origin of anal fin 18.5-20.5 % SL (vs. 14.5 % SL); head pores present on occiput and upper preoperculum (vs. absent); interorbital and occipital head pores present (vs. absent); no scales on top of head (vs. scales present); dorsal rim of otolith high (vs. rim flat) (Ref. 57891).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 16 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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