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Himantolophus litoceras Stewart & Pietsch, 2010 |
| Family: | Himantolophidae (Footballfishes) | |||
| Max. size: | 27.6 cm SL (female) | |||
| Environment: | bathydemersal; marine; depth range - 654 m | |||
| Distribution: | Southwest Pacific: New Zealand; expected to occur in the Tasman Sea. | |||
| Diagnosis: | Dorsal soft rays (total): 5-5; Anal soft rays: 4-4. This species' metamorphosed females are distinct from other species of the H. cornifer group in having a pair of simple distal escal appendages, each without any trace of lateral appendages or filaments; further diagnosed by the following: illicium length 31.1% SL (28.2% preserved); escal bulb width 11.9% (10.5% preserved); no filaments in illicium and esca; tiny, close-set dermal spinules cover the illicium, esca and proximal one-half of distal escal appendage (this appendage is darkly pigmented, tip of intact filament silvery white in freshly thawed specimens) (Ref. 85522). | |||
| Biology: | ||||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 11 October 2018 Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||