Matsubarichthys inusitatus Poss & Johnson, 1991
Rare velvetfish

Family:  Aploactinidae (Velvetfishes)
Max. size:  1.7 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine
Distribution:  Western Pacific: known only from the holotype taken in Queensland, Australia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 6-6; Dorsal soft rays (total): 6-6; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 4-4; Vertebrae: 21-21. Head extremely large, depressed. Body elongate, not compressed. Caudal fin damaged (rounded, without branched rays, 10 segmented rays and 4 unsegmented). Body scales absent, except for lateral line which are extremely long and tubular; first 3 touching each other. Its distinct, densely melanic spots on the head may be a transitory larval or juvenile character but cannot be verified until larger specimens are caught (Ref. 35981).
Biology:  Known only from the holotype which may be at a transitory larvae and juvenile stage with a length of 0.85 cm SL (Ref. 35981). Maximum length value is preliminary and is assumed to be twice the length of the only juvenile specimen reported.
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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 Not for publication.