Teleostei (teleosts) >
Lophiiformes (Anglerfishes) >
Ogcocephalidae (Batfishes)
Etymology: Malthopsis: Greek, malthe, es = a marine fish of soft flesh (Ref. 45335); retifera: Named for its distinct reticular color pattern on the dorsal surface of the disk; Latin 'rete' meaning net.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 375 - 420 m (Ref. 80924). Deep-water
Northeastern Indian Ocean: off Somalia, Socotra.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 6.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 80924)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal soft rays (total): 4 - 5. This species differs from its congeners in having a reticulate color pattern on dorsal surface of disk, 5 pairs of dark spots on disk margin and lateral sides of tail; rostrum is directed to front; bucklers on dorsal surface are relatively pointed, absence of small tubercles or bucklers between principal bucklers; rounded and flat bucklers on belly; anal fin reaching caudal
fin base when laid back; 6 lateral line scales in subopercular series and 7 or 8 in tail series; 11-13 (usually 12) pectoral fin rays and 4 or 5 (usually 5) dorsal fin rays (Ref. 80924).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Ho, H.-C., A.M. Prokofiev and K.-T. Shao, 2009. A new species of the batfish genus Malthopsis (Lophiiformes: Ogcocephalidae) from the Northwestern Indian Ocean. Zoological Studies 48(3):394-401. (Ref. 80924)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Tools
Special reports
Download XML
Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5001 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01479 (0.00517 - 0.04233), b=2.93 (2.68 - 3.18), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.2 ±0.5 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).