Scientific Name
Sympterichthys unipennis
Common Name
Smooth handfish
Biology
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 19;
Anal
soft rays: 9. This species is distinct with a combination of the following characters: minute esca, as a simple filament (possibly damaged); illicium with thick base, thin distally, no dermal spinules, length about 18% SL, 2.7 times in head length; close-set, embedded, nonimbricate, spiny scales cover the entire body; scale bases variable in shape, dendritic to narrowly thallate, with long unicuspid or bifurcate spinules (except for those closely associated with pores of the acoustico-lateralis system); adpressed spinules, posteriorly directed, originating from posterior region of scale base, apical spines moderately divergent; second dorsal-fin rays 17, fin base 64% SL; length of second dorsal-fin spine 1.3 times length of
longest ray of second dorsal fin; anal-fin rays 9; pectoral-fin rays 9; fresh coloration unknown, pale in preservative with darker markings on first dorsal fin and membranes of pectoral, pelvic and caudal fins (Ref. 82446).