Paracaristius aquilus Stevenson & Kenaley, 2011

Family:  Caristiidae (Manefishes)
Max. size:  12.9 cm SL (male/unsexed); 19.2 cm SL (female)
Environment:  pelagic-oceanic; marine; depth range 617 - 1480 m
Distribution:  Atlantic Ocean: south east Atlantic, off Angola.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 30-33; Anal soft rays: 16-17; Vertebrae: 35-37. This species is distinguished from P. maderensis and P. nudarcus by having fingerlike papillae along the dorsal margin of the hyoid arch and at the interhyal-posterior ceratohyal articulation, as well as having more dorsal-fin rays (30-33 versus 27-31 in P. maderensis and P. nudarcus) and fewer anal-fin rays (15-18 versus 17-20 in the 2 latter species); Paracaristius aquilus differs from P. nemorosus by its lesser body depth (<50% SL in P. aquilus vs. >50% SL in P. nemorosus) and caudal-peduncle depth (relatively long and shallow in P. aquilus vs. short and deep in P. nemorosus) (Ref. 87954).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 02 August 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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