Moulton?s handfish (Sympterichthys moultoni)

Scientific name: Sympterichthys moultoni Last & Gledhill, 2009

The Moulton?s handfish (Sympterichthys moultoni) is a marine fish of the family Brachionichthyidae. Native range: Southwest Pacific, Australia.

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.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Sympterichthys moultoni
Family
Brachionichthyidae (Handfishes)
Order
Lophiiformes (Anglerfishes)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
4.5
Depth range
105–150 m (344–492 ft)
Environment
Marine; demersal; depth range 105 - 150 m
Climate
Temperate
Distribution
Southwest Pacific: Australia.
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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