Melamphaes danae Ebeling, 1962
Bigscale
photo by SFSA

Family:  Melamphaidae (Bigscale fishes or ridgeheads)
Max. size:  2.3 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathypelagic; marine; depth range 75 - 1275 m
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific:
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 3-3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-16; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 8-9; Vertebrae: 26-27. This species is distinguished by the following characters: gill rakers on first gill arch 15-18; width of suborbital bone is substantially larger than eye diameter; vertebrae 26-27, including 11 (rarely 12) abdominal vertebrae; spurs on haemal arch of first caudal vertebra; D III,14-16; A I,8-9, soft rays in pelvic fin 7; pelvic fin origin under vertical (or behind of the vertical) through posterior edge of pectoral fin base; anal fin origin under second to fifth rays of dorsal fin (from end of fin); no black dotted pigmented spots on head, body, and fins (Ref. 117122).
Biology:  Trawled at depths greater than 125 meters (Ref. 4241).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 30 December 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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