Melamphaes proximus Kotlyar, 2015

Family:  Melamphaidae (Bigscale fishes or ridgeheads)
Max. size:  9.3 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathypelagic; marine; depth range 990 - 1162 m
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: from Madagascar and West Australia seamounts (Big Australian Bight) to off New Guinea Island and to Japan.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 3-3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-16; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 8-8; Vertebrae: 28-29. This species is distinguished by the following characters: first gill arch with 18-19 rakers; eye diameter is greater than width of suborbital bone; depth of caudal peduncle more than twice in its length; 28-29 vertebrae, of them trunk 12-13; haemal arch of first caudal vertebra no spurs; D III 15-16, A I 8, soft rays in ventral fin 7; the ventral fin begins beyond vertical of posterior margin of pectoral fin insertion; the anal fin begins beyond vertical of last ray of dorsal fin (Ref. 117111).
Biology:  Gonadal maturity at stage III for males (5.05 cm SL) and stage IV for female (9.3 cm SL) (Ref. 117111).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 30 December 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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