Moulton?s handfish (Sympterichthys moultoni) fish species and information / pictures of Moulton?s handfish - Sympterichthys moultoni

Moulton?s handfish (Sympterichthys moultoni) fish species information

Scientific Name
Sympterichthys moultoni

Common Name
Moulton?s handfish

Biology
Dorsal soft rays (total): 17-18; Anal soft rays: 7 - 8. This species is characterized by the following combination of characters: large esca, size variable, about 56% of illicium length; thick illicium, fleshy, with some dermal spinules on basal half, length 16-21% SL, 2.1-3 times in head length; esca with similar thickness to rest of structure; body entirely covered with close-set, non-imbricate scales; scale bases rudimentary, margins irregular, with long bifurcate spinules (except for those closely associated with pores of the acoustico-lateralis system); mainly adpressed spinules, originating from posterior region of scale base, apical spines moderately divergent; second dorsal fin rays 15-16, fin base 61-66% SL; length of second dorsal-fin spine 0.8-0.9 times length of longest ray of second dorsal fin; anal-fin rays 7-8; pectoral-fin rays 7-8; upper body is uniformly pale pink; membranes between distal portions of rays of dorsal, caudal and pelvic fins dark (Ref. 82446).

Classification

Classified By
Last & Gledhill, 2009
Class
Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)
Order
Anglerfishes (Lophiiformes)
Family
Handfishes (Brachionichthyidae)

Distribution

Region
Southwest Pacific
Distribution
Southwest Pacific: Australia.
Range
Unknown

Environment

Climate
Temperate
Water Temperature From
Unknown °C
Water Temperature To
Unknown °C
Depth From - meters
105 m
Depth To - meters
150 m
Zone
demersal
Environment
Marine; demersal; depth range 105 - 150 m (Ref. 82446)
Trophic Level
s.e. 0.00 Based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Occurs in Marine / Salt water
True
Occurs in Brackish water
False
Occurs in Fresh Water
False
Occurs on Reefs
False
Is kept in Aquariums
False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length
4.5 cm
Common Length
Unknown cm
Phylogenetic Diversity Index
PD50 = 0.7501 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses
Unknown
Vulnerability
Low vulnerability (10 of 100)
Resilience
Unknown
Threat To Humans
  Harmless
IUCN Red List Status
  Not Evaluated