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Hoplostethus melanopus (Weber, 1913) Smallscale slimehead |
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photo by
Reyes, R.B. |
| Family: | Trachichthyidae (Slimeheads) | |||
| Max. size: | 25 cm TL (male/unsexed) | |||
| Environment: | bathydemersal; marine; depth range 400 - 914 m | |||
| Distribution: | Indo-West Pacific: Natal in South Africa, Somalia, the United Arabic Emirates on the Madagascar Ridge (Ref. 9869) to Japan (Jon Moore, pers. comm.) and Indonesia. Southeast Atlantic: off Namibia and Cape Town, South Africa. | |||
| Diagnosis: | Dorsal spines (total): 4-5; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-16; Anal spines: 2-3; Anal soft rays: 8-10. Body and head brownish grey; fins dusky to blackish (Ref. 4181). | |||
| Biology: | Found on the continental slope (Ref. 75154). Lives close to the bottom (Ref. 27121). | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 09 October 2018 Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||