Microbrotula andersoni Schwarzhans & Nielsen, 2011
Anderson's viviparous brotula
Microbrotula andersoni
photo by W. Schwarzhans & J.G. Nielsen

Family:  Bythitidae (Livebearing brotulas)
Max. size:  5.2 cm SL (female)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 40 - 45 m
Distribution:  Eastern Indian Ocean, Christmas Island.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 70-70; Anal soft rays: 59-59; Vertebrae: 46-46. This species is distinguished by the following characters: vertebrae 11+35=46, fin rays, dorsal 70, anal 59, pectoral 19, caudal 8; anterior dorsal fin ray above vertebra 8; anterior anal fin ray below dorsal fin ray 14; anterior anal fin ray below vertebra 13; head with separated scale patches on cheeks, operculum and occiput; papillae confined on anterior part of head; hidden, forward-curved spine at lower angle of preopercle; posterior mandibular pores 3, lower preopercular pores 2; no palatine teeth; otolith shape anteriorly expanded, otolith length to otolith height 2.1, otolith length to colliculum length 2.8 (Ref. 88975).
Biology:  Cryptic, solitary inhabitant of reef crevices (Ref. 90102).
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 16 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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