| Ceratiidae (Warty Seadevils) |
| 7.3 cm TL (male/unsexed); 44 cm TL (female) |
|
bathypelagic; marine; depth range 0 - 3085 m |
| Circumglobal: tropical and subtropical. |
|
Dorsal spines (total): 1-1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 4-5; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 4-4; Vertebrae: 20-20. A large median and two small lateral oval caruncles immediately in front of origin of dorsal fin (Ref. 13608). Branchiostegal rays: 6 (Ref. 36494).
Description: Characterized by having 8 caudal fin rays and conspicuous spine on anterodorsal margin of the subopercle. Distinguishing characteristics of metamorphosed female: tiny illicium, reduced to a small remnant; dorsal midline of the trunk with 2 club-shaped caruncles just anterior to soft dorsal-fin origin. Metamorphosed males: longer anterior pair of lower denticular teeth compared to posterior pair; larvae, males and juvenile females have subdermal pigment on gill cover, dorsal surface of trunk and caudal peduncle (Ref. 86949). |
| Males dwarfed, becoming parasitic on females. Maximum size of free-living males is 1.05 cm (Ref. 4494). Females are oviparous, with planktonic larvae (Ref. 36494). Eggs are presumably contained in floating gelatinous rafts (Ref. 36494 ). |
|
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 09 May 2013 Ref. (130435)
|
| harmless |
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