Unguitrema nigrum Fricke, 2014
Black crinoid clingfish
Unguitrema nigrum
photo by Fricke, R.

Family:  Gobiesocidae (Clingfishes and singleslits), subfamily: Diademichthyinae
Max. size:  1.08 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic-neritic; marine; depth range 5 - 20 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Papua New Guinea.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal soft rays: 7-8. This small species is distinguished by the following characters: D 9; A 7-8; pectoral-fin rays 22-23; principal caudal-fin rays 12; colouration plain black without white stripes; head short with head length 4.7-4.9 in SL and narrow with head width 7.5-8.5 in SL; anus posteriorly situated, with disc-to-anus distance 3.2-3.5 in SL; 3 rows of papillae distally on disc region B; 2 central papillae clusters on disc region B with only 2 papillae each (Ref. 98449).
Biology:  Collected on a crinoid, Oxycomanthus bennetti (Müller, 1841), black colour phase with green tentacles (family Comasteridae). Exact locality and depth where the species was collected unknown (due to confusion of station data) but was probably collected in a pass leading out of the lagoon, with a depth between 5 and 20 m. (Ref. 98449).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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