Neoceratias spinifer

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Neoceratias spinifer
Neoceratias spinifer, female

Neoceratias spinifer , female

Systematics
Perch relatives (Percomorphaceae)
Order : Armfinch (Lophiiformes)
Subordination : Deep sea frogfish (Ceratioidei)
Family : Neoceratiidae
Genre : Neoceratias
Type : Neoceratias spinifer
Scientific name of the  family
Neoceratiidae
Regan , 1926
Scientific name of the  genus
Neoceratias
Pappenheim, 1914
Scientific name of the  species
Neoceratias spinifer
Pappenheim , 1914

Neoceratias spinifer is a species of deep-sea frogfish (Ceratioidei) thatlivesin tropical and subtropical regions in the Atlantic , Pacific and Indian Oceans down to a depth of 1200 meters. It is the only species of the genus Neoceratias and the family Neoceratiidae. Nothing is known about the way of life of the fish.

features

female

Neoceratias spinifer differs from other deep-sea frogfish in a number of characteristics. It is the only species that has no "Angel" ( Illicium ). Females become six to ten centimeters long. The body is elongated, the height corresponds to about 18 to 20% of the standard length . The skin is black or dark red-brown. The dorsal and anal fins of the fish face each other symmetrically and have a broad base. The fish have no luminous organs .

Fin formula : dorsal 11–13, anal 10–13.

For a deep-sea anglerfish, the head is relatively small, reaching 27 to 30% of the standard length. The eyes are small and receded, their diameter is less than 2% of the standard length. The horizontal or slightly above mouth is large and extends far behind the eyes. The outside of the jaws are covered with two to three rows of long, movable teeth, which gave them the name “Needlebeard Seadevils”. These teeth have a hook at the end. The back and outermost teeth are the longest and can reach 15% of the standard length in some specimens. They are rooted in conical recesses in the edges of the jaw and are held in place by strong muscles. There is also an inner row of small, immobile teeth that are far apart.

A 74 mm long female had 16 to 17 external teeth and six small internal teeth on the premaxillary and 18 external teeth and ten internal teeth on each dental . On each side of the vomer sat a long and slender tooth.

male

Adult males live parasitically attached to the female as dwarf males . Free-swimming males are unknown. The seven previously known specimens were 11.5 to 18 mm in length. Your eyes and the olfactory organ are degenerated. A few small, immobile teeth were still found in the jaws. The skin of the males is scaly, lighter than that of the females and partially transparent. The premaxillary of the males is well developed, in most other deep-sea anglerfish males it is regressed. The stomach has receded. The fin formula corresponds to that of the females.

Larvae

The eleven larvae of Neoceratias spinifer caught so far were 3.7 to 12.5 mm in length and also differed from all other deep-sea anglerfish larvae by their slim body. Their body height and head length reach 30 to 40% of the standard length, the tail fin takes 20 to 30% of the standard length. Larger larvae are slimmer.

All specimens had a rudimentary Illicium on the tip of the snout above the symphysis of the upper jaw, as in the larvae of the Ceratiidae . The pectoral fins are relatively small and 15 to 20% of the standard length. A sexual dimorphism not show the larvae. Ventral fins are missing. The fin formula corresponds to that of adult females. Larvae have a well-developed sense of smell, which the male larvae use to find a female. The metamorphosis begins with a length of 8 to 10 mm.

literature

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