Akarnax Slopefish (Symphysanodon mona)

Scientific name: Symphysanodon mona Anderson & Springer, 2005

The Akarnax Slopefish (Symphysanodon mona) is a marine fish of the family Symphysanodontidae. Native range: Western Central Atlantic, known only from the type locality: Mona Passage off the west coast of Puerto Rico.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 7; Vertebrae: 25. The species differs from all other species of the genus in having fewer gillrakers on first arch (4 or 5 + 19-21 = 24 or 25 total vs. 8-14 + 20-29 = 28-42 total). In addition, it differs from other Atlantic species in having a ventral branch of obliquus dorsalis 3 muscle (vs. its absence in the other two species) and in having a posteriorly projecting extension of the cartilaginous lateral end of ceratobranchial 4 (vs. its absence in the other two species; S. berryi has a small accessory cartilage associated with the lateral end of ceratobranchial 4; the specimen of S. octoactinus examined may have had a very small accessory cartilage that was lost during dissection).

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Symphysanodon mona
Family
Symphysanodontidae (Slopefishes)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
8.6
Depth range
384 m (1260 ft)
Environment
Marine; pelagic-oceanic; depth range 384 - 384 m
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Western Central Atlantic: known only from the type locality: Mona Passage off the west coast of Puerto Rico.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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