Brotulinella taiwanensis Schwarzhans, Møller & Nielsen, 2005
Taiwan coralbrotula
photo by W. Schwarzhans et al.

Family:  Dinematichthyidae (Viviparous brotula)
Max. size:  6 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; marine; depth range 0 - 6 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Taiwan and the Philippines.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 68-78; Anal soft rays: 52-63; Vertebrae: 40-43. The anterior nostril is placed low on snout; male copulatory organ with 2 pairs of pseudoclaspers, the outer large, broad and blade-like, the inner a mere fleshy appendix fused to the outer pseudoclasper anteriorly and without a supporter; eyes moderately large (1.8-2.6% SL); fish small (maximum 60 mm SL, maturity reached at 35 mm SL), slender (head height about 16% SL, depth at anal about 16.5% SL); precaudal vertebrae 12 (rarely 11); head with scale patch only on cheek; otolith elongate, its sulcus inclined (5-10°), short (otolith length to sulcus length 2.2-2.4), with fused colliculi; maxilla rounded postero-ventrally with weak knob in front of rear corner; anterior anal fin pterygiophore is long (Ref. 57884). Description: Characterized by head and upper third of body generally darker; vertebrae 11-12+29-31=40-43 (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Occurs in shallow water between rocks, mainly in surge areas (Ref. 57884). Cryptic, solitary inhabitant of shallow water (<6m) (Ref 90102).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 15 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:  Known from Batanes Province (Ref. 57884).


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