Bigeye cusk (Alionematichthys riukiuensis)

Scientific name: Alionematichthys riukiuensis Aoyagi, 1954

Bigeye cusk (Alionematichthys riukiuensis)

The Bigeye cusk (Alionematichthys riukiuensis) is a marine fish of the family Bythitidae. Native range: Western Pacific, Ryukyu Islands, Fiji and eastern Australia. More recently reported from Ouv?a Atoll, Loyalty Islands.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 77-92; Anal soft rays: 59 - 72; Vertebrae: 41 - 44. This species is distinguished by the following characters: D 77-92; A 59-72; moderately large eyes (2.5-3.0% SL); moderately slender, massive body, snout with many cirri; cheeks with scales and a large scale patch on opercular spine(6-17), with large specimens having a few scales below opercular spine; with upper preopercular pore; outer pseudoclasper broad-based, not very large, not extending beyond hood in resting position; the inner pseudoclasper is not much smaller than the outer one, equal anterior and posterior lobes, anterior lobe broadly connected to anterior rim of outer pseudoclasper; slender otolith, its length to height 2.2-2.4, with gently curved dorsal rim; otolith length to sulcus length 1.6-1.7, ostium length to cauda length 3.5-4.0; vertebrae 11-12 + 30-32 = 41-44.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Alionematichthys riukiuensis
Family
Bythitidae (Viviparous brotulas)
Order
Ophidiiformes (Cusk eels)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
7.9
Depth range
0–3 m (0–10 ft)
Environment
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 3 m
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Western Pacific: Ryukyu Islands, Fiji and eastern Australia. More recently reported from Ouv?a Atoll, Loyalty Islands.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Resilience
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Assuming Fec

Sources

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

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