Kali colubrina Melo, 2008

Family:  Chiasmodontidae (Snaketooth fishes)
Max. size:  17.12 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathypelagic; marine; depth range 1000 - 2270 m
Distribution:  Western Atlantic (88°45’ W-38°19’ W, 27°48’ N and 19°50’ S): N Atlantic (Gulf of Mexico, Straits of Florida, off the Bahamas and Suriname) and S Atlantic (off Brazil). Indo-Pacific (off Indonesia), western South Pacific (off New Zealand) and the Pacific Plate, between 127°36’ E and 169°07’ E, 19°14’ N and 39°49’ S.
Diagnosis:  A moderate-sized species of Kali and is distinguished from its congeners by the unique dentition pattern: teeth in lateral series of premaxilla 13-22, type 4, caniniform but not developed as fangs, recurved (vs. teeth in lateral series of premaxilla seven to 22; first tooth developed as fang in K. falx and K. indica; needle-like at least in the anterior part of dentigerous area in K. kerberti, K. normani, and K. macrura; recurved, with ventral attachment in the posterior dentigerous area in K. macrura and entire dentigerous area in K. parri); teeth in mesial series of premaxilla five to nine, not developed as fangs (vs. teeth in mesial series of premaxilla three in K. falx and K. indica; four to five in K. kerberti, three to four in K. macrura; and six to fifteen in K. parri; developed as fangs in K. falx, K. indica; K. kerberti, and K. macrodon); teeth in lateral series of dentary eight to 18, type 4, caniniform but not very elongated, recurved (vs. teeth in lateral series of dentary seven to 22, elongated in K. falx and K. indica; needle-like at least in the anterior fourth of dentigerous area in K. kerberti, K. normani, and K. macrura; with ventral attachment, recurved, in the posterior dentigerous area in K. macrura, and entire dentigerous area in K. parri); teeth in mesial series of dentary six to ten, not developed as fangs (vs. teeth in mesial series of premaxilla two to four in K. falx and K. indica; four to five in K. kerberti, six to eight in K. macrura; and seven to 19 in K. parri; developed as fangs in K. falx, K. indica; K. kerberti, and K. macrodon).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 12 October 2018 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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