New 🐟 Mercury Safety Guide & Omega-3 Rankings Updated for 2026. View Omega-3 Rankings →

🌊 Marine Least Concern 🌡️ Tropical

Bighead viviparous brotula

Alionematichthys crassiceps Møller & Schwarzhans, 2008
Max Length
6.3 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
3.3
Depth
0–5 m
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
-
Vulnerability
10.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
reef

📖 Overview

Cryptic, solitary inhabitant of shallow water, usually in rocky crevices . A 5.6 cm SL gravid female (USNM 394976) with 95 embryos, 0.41 cm TL in length, and approximately 50 orange eggs, 0.06 cm in diameter .

Scientific Name
Alionematichthys crassiceps
Authority
Møller & Schwarzhans, 2008
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Tropical
Body Shape
Elongated
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
6.3 cm
Depth Range
0–5 m
Trophic Level
3.3
Vulnerability
10.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal soft rays (total): 72 - 81; Anal soft rays: 57 - 64; Vertebrae: 41 - 43. This species is distinguished by the following characters: ; D 72-81; A 57-64; small eyes (1.3-2.5%SL); blunt snout, no cirri; cheeks with scales and 3-10 scales above opercular spine; with upper preopercular pore; outer pseudoclasper broad-based, simple flap like, while the inner one with free, forward-pointing anterior lobe and broad posterior lobe; otolith length to height 1.9-2.0, with rounded dorsal rim; otolith length to sulcus length 1.7-1.8, very short caudal, ostium length to cauda length 4.5-5.0 .: elongated; Cross section: compressed.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Bighead viviparous brotula is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Bighead viviparous brotula is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Reproduction data for Bighead viviparous brotula is currently being compiled.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 5 m . Tropical Indian Ocean: Western Australia (Ref.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 🪸 Reef Associated
Trophic Level
3.3±0.5
🧍 Solitary

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00389 × L3.12 (TL)
Max TL
6.3cm
Dorsal Rays
77
Anal Rays
61
Vertebrae
42

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2019

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Fishing Vulnerability
10.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.3
Predator
Body Shape
Elongated
Climate Zone
Tropical
Described By
Møller & Schwarzhans, 2008

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
0 Observations logged on Aquareap

No observations yet - be the first to log one!

View all observations for Bighead viviparous brotula ↗
Suggest an Edit

Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.

Link to a scientific paper, FishBase, or other authoritative source
Report an Issue

Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.