|
Verilus starnesi Yamanoue, 2016 |
| Family: | Malakichthyidae (Temperate ocean-basses) | |||
| Max. size: | 11.8 cm SL (male/unsexed) | |||
| Environment: | demersal; marine | |||
| Distribution: | Western Pacific: New Caledonia. | |||
| Diagnosis: | Dorsal spines (total): 10-10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-10; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 7-7. This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: differs from atlanticus by having a row of conical teeth posterior to a canine tooth near symphysis of lower jaw (vs. only villiform teeth in atlanticus); differs from anomalus, atlanticus by the absence of the basioccipital fossa (vs. present); differs from anomalus, cynodon by having the proximal-middle radial of first anal-fin pterygiophore without concavity on anterior surface (vs. narrow and elongate concavity) and with atlanticus (angular concavity); differs with anomalus in having pectoral-fin rays 16 and 15 on right (vs. 14), gill rakers on lower arm of first gill arch 14 (vs. 20-23); lateral-line scales 47 (vs. 45 or fewer in cynodon, sordidus and 49-51 in pacificus); body depth 30.5% SL (vs. 22.2-28.1% SL in anomalus; 32.1% SL or more in pacificus, sordidus); scales cycloid and very weakly ctenoid (only cycloid in pacificus) (Ref. 123567). | |||
| Biology: | ||||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||