Coelophrys micropus (Alcock 1891)

Other Names: Lesser Handfish

Illustration of Coelophrys micropa. Source: Bradbury (1986) Ogcocephalidae, in Smiths' Sea Fishes: 372 / Biodiversity Heritage Library. License: CC by Attribution

Summary:

A grey to dark grey or bluish-black seabat, with a box-like head, a slender tail, minute pelvic fins, a deep broad illicial cavity, and two rounded ventral lobes and a dorsal flap on the esca. The body is not strongly dorso-ventrally flattened, and the head is globose and somewhat flattened ventrally.

Cite this page as:

Bray, D.J. 2024, Coelophrys micropus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 25 Jan 2025, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/4913

Coelophrys micropus (Alcock 1891)

More Info

Distribution	West of Leander Point and NE of Rowley Shoals, Western Australia; also Christmas Island in the eastern Indian Ocean. Elsewhere, the species is widespread on the continental slope in the tropical Indo-west Pacific, depth range 395–1880 m.
Features	Dorsal fin 6; Anal fin 4; Pectoral fin 14-16; Vertebrae 16-18. Cephalic lateral line scale counts: preopercular 2-4; subopercular 4-6; dorsolateral branch of subopercular 4-6; supraorbital 7-10. Disk almost globe-shaped, trapezoidal in outline with a flattened ventral surface. Lower jaw projecting relative to upper jaw. Dorsal surface of rostrum broad, flat with a slightly concave anterior margin and no enlarged median spine; interorbital space very broad, more than twice eye diameter;. Gill rakers as triangular plates with tiny teeth at distal angle. Fins weak, pelvic fins minute. Tail relatively short and slender, longer than pectoral fin. Illicial cavity very large, deep and broad, housing the esca. Esca with two rounded ventral lobes, and a broad, relatively low dorsal lobe or flap. Skin translucent, flabby, almost velvety - covered in small tubercles with slender spines.
Colour	Body pale with black tips on pelvic fins.
Etymology	The specific name is from the Greek mikros (= small) and pous (= foot) in reference to the minute pelvic fins of this species.
Species Citation	Dibranchus micropus Alcock 1891, Annals and Magazine of Natural History 6 8(43, 44): 25, pl. 7 (figs 2a-b). Type locality: Bay of Bengal, 15°56'50"N, 81°30'30"E, Investigator station 120, depth 240-276 fathoms.
Author	Bray, D.J. 2024
Resources	Atlas of Living Australia Australian Faunal Directory Catalog of Fishes

Coelophrys micropus (Alcock 1891)

References

Alcock, A. 1891. Class Pisces. In, II. – Natural history notes from H. M. Indian marine survey steamer Investigator, Commander R.F. Hoskyn, R.N., commanding.– Series II., No. 1. On the results of deep-sea dredging during the season 1890-91. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 6 8(43, 44): 16-34, 119-138 figs 1-5 pls 7-8 See ref at BHL

Alcock, A.W. 1898. Illustrations of the zoology of the Royal Indian marine surveying steamer Investigator,...Fishes. Calcutta. Part 5: no p., Pls. 18-24. (as Dibranchus macropus) See ref at BHL

Bradbury, M.G. 1986. Family No. 104: Ogcocephalidae. pp. 370-373, Pl. 15 in Smith, M.M. & Heemstra, P.C. (eds). Smith's Sea Fishes. Johannesburg : Macmillan South Africa xx + 1047 pp. 144 pls. (as Halieutopsis micropus) See ref at BHL

Bradbury, M.G. 1988. Rare fishes of the deep-sea genus Halieutopsis: a review with descriptions of four new species (Lophiiformes: Ogcocephalidae). Fieldiana 44: 1-22. See ref at BHL

Ho, H. 2020. Coelophrys micropa. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T140202449A140322631. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T140202449A140322631.en. Downloaded on 16 November 2021.

Ho, H.-C. & Shao, K.-T. 2008. The batfishes (Lophiiformes Ogcocephalidae) of Taiwan, with descriptions of eight new records. Journal of the Fisheries Society of Taiwan 35: 289-313. https://doi.org/10.29822/JFST.200812.0001