Melamphaes papavereus Kotlyar, 2016

Family:  Melamphaidae (Bigscale fishes or ridgeheads)
Max. size:  3.5 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathypelagic; marine; depth range 0 - 1000 m
Distribution:  Eastern Indian Ocean: India, Bay of Bengal.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 3-3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-15; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 8-8; Vertebrae: 25-25. This species is distinguished by the following characters: rakers on first gill arch 18; suborbital bone width is significantly greater than eye diameter; total vertebrae 25, abdominal 11; descending spinules ('spurs') on haemal arm of first caudal vertebra 2; D III,15; A I,8; P 7, with ventral fin starting under the vertical line of posterior margin of pectoral fin basement; anal fin starting behind vertical line of last dorsal fin ray; head and body with black dotted pigment spots (Ref. 117121).
Biology:  Known only from one specimen caught in the Bay of Bengal with a nonclosing net at 0-1000 meters depth (Ref. 117121).
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 30 December 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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