Dibrachichthys Melanurus

📖 Overview

Specimens collected by epibenthic sled, dredge, otter trawl or prawn trawl over soft-bottom substrates of mud or sand. Apparently rare, with solitary individuals widely dispersed. .

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal soft rays (total): 14 - 15; Anal soft rays: 8 - 10; Vertebrae: 21. This species is distinguished by the following characters: pectoral fin entire rather than the rays divided into two distinct sections; considerably broader cranium, with more extensive lateral projections of the lateral ethmoids, sphenotics, and pterotics; frontals highly elevated, each with a prominent medial flange closely approaching its counterpart on the midline (forming a longitudinal, semi-closed, tube-like structure on the snout between the eyes), and a large anterolateral surface, forming (together with the respective sphenotic and lateral ethmoid) a deep, semi-circular, protective cavity for the eye; parietals conical and highly elevated, resulting in formation of a deep, central, cranial depression; vertebrae 21; posteriormost proximal radial of the dorsal and anal fins lying between the neural and haemal spines, respectively, of the fifth and sixth pre-ural centra; second and third dorsal-fin spines well developed; dorsal-fin rays 14-15; anal-fin rays 8-10; distal end of the third pectoral-fin radial relatively small; considerably longer pectoral-fin rays with longest ray 34.5-48.5%; pelvic bone and fin hypertrophied; an entirely different pigment pattern; oral cavity darkly pigmented; a conspicuous dark band on the dorsum just below the soft dorsal fin, a dark bar across the caudal peduncle and base of the tail, no ocelli-like spots .

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Dibrachichthys Melanurus is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; pelagic-neritic; depth range 6 - 146 m . Tropical Indian Ocean to Western Pacific: Australia and Indonesia.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

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