| Paraulopidae (Cucumber fishes) |
| 32 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
|
pelagic-oceanic; marine; depth range 300 - 800 m |
| Southwest Pacific: Tasman Sea at 30°35°S, from Browns Mount southeast of Botany Bay, New South Wales, to the Three Kings Ridge just north of the northern boundary of New Zealand’s EEZ. |
|
Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-11; Anal soft rays: 8-9; Vertebrae: 48-48. This species is distinguished by the following characters: A 8-9; pectoral fin rays 19; vertebrae 48; predorsal scales 19-24; scales above lateral line 5.5; pelvic fin large, length 22.8-28.4% SL, larger in males than females, inner lobe much shorter than outer lobe, ratio of lengths of outer lobe to inner 1.7-2.1; two prominent broad brown bands posterior to dorsal fin on sides of body; broad black marginal stripe covering distal third of dorsal fin with distinct broad white submarginal stripe; distal third of upper lobe of caudal fin with white marginal band and black submarginal band, while ventral lobe with black marginal band; buccal cavity pigmented black forward to jaws; males with black anal fin margin anteriorly and distally, females lack dark margins (Ref. 86263). |
| The absence from trawl collections may infer that this species may prefer hard-bottom habitat, which is usually avoided by trawl fishers. Also, the fact that this species are taken with hook and line suggests that it is carnivorous. Individuals probably rest on their substantial pelvic fins waiting for potential prey to come to them, a behaviour common to a number of other members of the order (Ref. 86263). |
|
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 15 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
|
| harmless |
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