Scientific Name
Pezichthys amplispinus
Common Name
Cockatoo Handfish
Biology
Dorsal
spines
(total): 17 - 18;
Anal
spines: 79. Member of the genus Pezichthys with a bold colour pattern, long dermal spinules, a humped
nape and the posterior extension of the first dorsal-fin membrane is very short (i.e. interdorsal distance long). It also differs from its congeners in a combination of the following characters: esca small, 19?21% of illicium
length; illicium very slender, without dermal spinules, its length 16?20% SL, 2.5?3.1 times in head length in adults; head length 4.9?6.2 times snout length; snout long, length 8?10% SL; eye 6.2?7.7 times in head length; body moderately robust, maximum width 30?38% SL; interorbital width 8?11% SL; scale bases subcircular with relatively long bifurcate spinules (except for those closely associated with pores of the acoustico-lateralis system); spinules variable in length over body; dorsal-fin elements with spinules, membranes of fins mostly naked; first dorsal-fin base length 18?20% SL; second dorsal-fin rays 15?16