| Family: |
Ophidiidae (Cusk-eels), subfamily: Neobythitinae |
| Max. size: |
22.9 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
bathydemersal; marine; depth range 2500 - 4810 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-West Pacific: off East Africa; Australia, and Papua New Guinea. |
| Diagnosis: |
This species is distinguished by the following characters: precaudal vertebrae 16-18; first gill arch with long gill rakers 13-17; pectoral-fin rays 16-18; HL:HD 1.73-2.01; most head spines are weak, present on ethmoidal, lacrimal (ridge), prefrontal, interorbital, sphenotic, outer posttemporal, inner preopercular rim and absent on supraorbital, 5th infraorbital, supratemporal, inner posttemporal, outer preopercular rim; opercular spine sharp and extruding; opercular flap small; lower lateral line pores until beginning of anal fin 23; moderately broad dentition patch on vomer with 2-5 rows of teeth and on palatines 3-5 rows of teeth; otolith with single colliculum; OL:OH = 1.3; OL:TCL = 2.45 (Ref. 125143). |
| Biology: |
Rare species, known from a depth of 2.560 m (Ref. 34024). Reproductive strategy possibly similar to other members of this family featuring oviparity, with oval pelagic eggs floating in a gelatinous mass (Ref. 205). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 15 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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