Pholidichthys anguis

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Pholidichthys anguis
Holotype of Pholidichthys anguis

Holotype of Pholidichthys anguis

Systematics
Perch relatives (Percomorphaceae)
Ovalentaria
Order : Cichliformes
Family : Pholidichthyidae
Genre : Pholidichthys
Type : Pholidichthys anguis
Scientific name
Pholidichthys anguis
Springer & Larson , 1996

Pholidichthys anguis ( Lat .: "Anguis" = snake) is a little-known, eel-like stretched marine fish that occurs exclusively on the coast of northern Australia in the Gulf of Carpentaria and in the southeastern Arafura Sea between the Australian continent and the island of New Guinea .

features

The only known adult of Pholidichthys anguis is a 24.5 cm long female. In addition, some juvenile fish that were between 2.5 and 10.3 cm long were examined. Pholidichthys anguis differs from its only close relative, the white-striped eel goby ( Pholidichthys leucotaenia ) by the larger number of dorsal fin rays (82 to 98 compared to 66 to 79 in P. leucotaenia ), the greater number of anal fin rays (70 to 81 im Compared to 49 to 62 in P. leucotaenia ), the greater number of vertebrae (90 to 101 compared to 71 to 79 in P. leucotaenia ), the shorter head and the shorter maxillary (upper jawbone). The pectoral fins are supported by 14, less often 15, fin rays; the outer ones are simple, the rest are branched. The tiny ventral fins have a greatly reduced spine and two to three soft rays, the caudal fin has ten simple fin rays. Pholidichthys anguis is dark, almost black in color, the conspicuous yellow banding of P. leucotaenia is replaced by indistinct, smoky, oval spots.

habitat

All Pholidichthys anguis have so far been caught from depths of 19 to 70 m over a muddy bottom with sand, mussels, sponges and isolated reef islands . They live there hidden in caves in the ground.

literature

Web links