Dinematichthys iluocoeteoides Bleeker, 1855
Yellow pigmy brotula
photo by Winterbottom, R.

Family:  Dinematichthyidae (Viviparous brotula)
Max. size:  12 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 1 - 30 m
Distribution:  Eastern Indian Ocean: although reported to occur widely in the Indo-Pacific, specimens have only been collected at the Batu Islands, off Sumatra, Indonesia. Western Indian Ocean: Gravid females have been collected from Seychelles Islands (Ref. 45699).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 75-88; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 59-69; Vertebrae: 41-45. Description: Characterized by yellow to reddish color; eye 2.2-3.3% SL; depth of body at anal fin origin 16.3-21.4 (mean 19.3)% SL; anterior nostril high on snout, about half distance from lip to anterior rim of eye; two pairs of small pseudoclaspers; outer, broad based; inner with two lobes; presence of preopercular pore; small embedded scales on cheeks, opercle and occiput covers head; snout tip with cirri (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Rare species (Ref. 34024) notable for its strict association with true reef environments and particularly so with outer reefs and reef cores (Ref. 81230). An indweller of deep interstices of lagoon and seaward reefs to a depth of at least 30 m (Ref. 1602). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 240). Solitary inhabitant of shallow water, cryptic (Ref 90102).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 15 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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