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 Not for publication.
