Hunchback Shore Eel (Alabes gibbosa), first described by Hutchins & Morrison, 2004 is a small fish in the family Gobiesocidae (order Gobiesociformes). Adults typically reach 9.10 cm in maximum length. It inhabits marine coastal and open-ocean environments. Recorded depth range: 2 to 4 metres. It occurs in Subtropical waters. It feeds on a mix of small fish and invertebrates as a mid-level predator. On the IUCN Red List, it is classified as Least Concern.
Diagnosis: Pelvic fins rudimentary. Gill slit medium. Postocular pore 2, wide; anterior nasal and lacrymal pores present; posterior nasal pore absent. Vertebrae total 60-61, precaudal 22; last epineural on the 20th vertebra. Caudal rays 9-11. Dorsal origin over the anus. Body not transparent. This species differs from it congeners by a combination of its deep body (depth 7.8-9.5 in SL), which usually exhibits a gibbous dorsal profile, relatively large gill slit (3.3-3.9 in HL), large gill slit (2.9-4.4 in HL), prominent rudimentary pelvic fin with obvious fin rays, two postocular pore on each side of head, and unique color pattern. It is most similar to A. brevis, differing in its deeper and larger body, presence of a post nasal pore (usually absent in the latter species), more vertebrae (68-69 versus 61-62), and different coloration, where males of this species never develop a tigerlike pattern of irregular dark bars on the side of the head as found in A. brevis .: eel-like.
Behavioural data for Hunchback Shore Eel is currently being reviewed.
Marine; demersal; depth range 2 - 4 m . Subtropical Indian Ocean: Western Australia.
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Hunchback Shore Eel |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Anguililla Jorobada |
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 1 records indexed .
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