| Family: |
Carapidae (Pearlfishes), subfamily: Carapinae |
| Max. size: |
30 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
demersal; marine; depth range 1 - 150 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-Pacific: Mauritius to the Society Islands, north to Taiwan and the Yaeyama Islands; including Mariana and Caroline islands. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal soft rays (total): 31-42; Anal soft rays: 45-57; Vertebrae: 119-126. Eel-like, moderate to shallow body depth; maxilla free and movable; cardiform teeth present; branchiostegal membranes partly or completely united; swim bladder with thin terminal membrane or bulb; lacking enlarged dentary or premaxillary fangs, dentary diastema, pelvic fins, and swim bladder rocker bone (Ref. 34024). Pectoral fins small, less than 29% head length; body thick, robust and highly pigmented (Ref. 34024).
Description: Characterized by reddish brown color, finely speckled with dark brown dots; pectoral fins about one-third head length; depth of body about 13 in TL; anal rays anterior to origin of dorsal fin; head length about 8-10 in TL; jaw teeth in bands; vomer with short conical teeth, protruding; narrow band of stout conical teeth in palatines (Ref. 90102). |
| Biology: |
Uncommon species (Ref. 34024). Lives within holothurians (e.g. Thelenota ananas and Bohadschia argus) (Ref. 1602). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 15 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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