Himantolophus mauli Bertelsen & Krefft, 1988
Himantolophus mauli
photo by Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Canada

Family:  Himantolophidae (Footballfishes)
Max. size:  21.5 cm SL (female)
Environment:  bathypelagic; marine; depth range 400 - 750 m
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: Iceland (Ref. 12462) and off Madeira (Ref. 12965).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 5-5; Anal soft rays: 4-4. Distinguishing characteristics of metamorphosed female: length of illicium 56-87% SL; bifurcated distal escal appendage some distance from base; each primary branch simple and darkly pigmented in small specimens, faintly pigmented in large specimens; length of primary branch 35-40% SL in specimens 3-3.8 cm, 78-83% in specimens 8.6-15.5 cm; unpigmented posterior escal appendage , length 3.5-13% SL; postolateral appendage on illicium 0-5, longest appendage 0-6.3%SL; escal bulb and appendages lacking dermal spinules (Ref. 86949).
Biology:  Caught in bottom trawls and open pelagic nets in 400-750 m (Ref. 86949).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 11 October 2018 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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