Scientific Name
Matsubarichthys inusitatus

Common Name
Rare velvetfish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 6; Dorsal soft rays (total): 6; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 4; Vertebrae: 21. Head extremely large, depressed. Body elongate, not compressed. Caudal fin damaged (rounded, without branched rays, 10 segmented rays and 4 unsegmented). Body scales absent, except for lateral line which are extremely long and tubular; first 3 touching each other. Its distinct, densely melanic spots on the head may be a transitory larval or juvenile character but cannot be verified until larger specimens are caught (Ref. 35981).

Classification

Classified By

Poss & Johnson, 1991

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Scorpionfishes and Flatheads (Scorpaeniformes)

Family

Velvetfishes (Aploactinidae)

Distribution

Region

Western Pacific

Distribution

Western Pacific: known only from the holotype taken in Queensland, Australia.

Range

Unknown

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; demersal

Trophic Level

3.01 s.e. 0.50 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

1.7 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 1.0000 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