Chaunax reticulatus Ho, Roberts & Stewart, 2013
Netted frogmouth
photo by Ho, H.-C.

Family:  Chaunacidae (Sea toads o coffinfishes)
Max. size:  25.8 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 360 - 950 m
Distribution:  Southwest Pacific: seamounts and oceanic ridges of northern New Zealand and southern New Caledonia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 3-3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-12; Anal soft rays: 6-7. This species of the Chaunax fimbriatus-species group is characterized possessing a cirri on head, reticulate colour pattern on dorsal surface and more than 3 pairs of spinules in lateral-line neuromast complex. It is further distinguished from its congeners in having greyish dorsal background colour with pale reticulate pattern; cirri present above the eye and none on the lower part of maxilla; 4-6 pairs of stout spinules bridging each neuromast; pectoral-fin rays 14; relatively long and slender illicium; elongate illicial trough, longer than wide; numerous thin brownish cirri on esca; gill rakers: GRi = 12-13 (3+8-9); GRii = 9; GRiii = 9; GRiv = 7-8; lateral-line neuromasts: AB = 11-12 (modally 11); AC = 7-9 (8); BB' = 4-5 (4); BD = 2-3 (2); CD = 5-8 (6-7); EF = 3-4 (4); FG = 3-4 (3); GH = 11-13 (12); BI = 30-35 (Ref. 93086).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 12 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.