Betty's ocean sleeper

📖 Overview

The 4 m2 clove oil station was deployed over a reef outcrop surrounded by sand at a depth of 11 m. Enclosed microhabitats included heavily sedimented reef matrix, live branching and massive corals, Halimeda, sand, and overhangs/crevices .

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 7. This species is distinguished by the following: branchiostegal rays 6; fifth ceratobranchials lack ventral processes; dorsal hemitrichs of the pelvic-fin rays have simple proximal heads; pelvic fins are completely separate, with no anterior frenum or membrane connecting the innermost rays; pectoral fin rays 16; D VI + I,8; A, I,7; ossified but very reduced scapula; scales have a single row of cteni along the scale margins; bony canal support on the preoperculum is extremely reduced; with an interneural gap between the last pterygiophore of the first dorsal fin and the first pterygiophore of the second dorsal fin; epural one; lacks a dorsal postcleithrum; urohyal lacks a ventral shelf; interhyal with disc-shaped lateral structure for articulation with the preoperculum; palatine is close to T-shaped, with a robust ethmoid process, 87% the length of maxillary process; tightly spaced, villiform teeth in multiple rows; premaxilla with two tooth rows to the posterior, increasing to five rows at the anterior; primarily transparent white, with opaque white and crimson red markings; broadly fusiform in shape, with a pointed snout and a laterally compressed head. (Ref, 130190).Cross section: compressed.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Betty's ocean sleeper is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated. Tropical

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

👥 Community & Contribute