Linophryne arborifera Regan, 1925
Linophryne arborifera
photo by Reiner, F.

Family:  Linophrynidae (Leftvents)
Max. size:  7 cm TL (male/unsexed); 7.7 cm SL (female)
Environment:  bathypelagic; marine; depth range 200 - 1000 m
Distribution:  Atlantic Ocean: in tropical and subtropical areas. Pacific Ocean: Japan (Ref. 559) and New Zealand (Ref. 5755).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 3-3; Anal soft rays: 3-3. Metamorphosed females distinguished by the following characteristics: escal bulb with tapering distal appendage bearing proximal pair of stout, blunt lateral branches; tiny, filamentous, simple or paired secondary branches on distal tip of proximal branches and in pairs along primary branch, increasing in length and number with size of specimen; short, blunt or pointed posterior escal appendage; absence of additional escal appendage; barbel divided near base into 4 primary branches; subdermal pigment in two lateral bands along side of body; parasitic males without pointed sphenotic spines (Ref. 86949).
Biology:  Also mesopelagic (Ref. 10762).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 09 May 2013 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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