Galathea Cuskeel, Abyssobrotula galatheae Nielsen 1977

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Bray, D.J. 2026, Abyssobrotula galatheae in Fishes of Australia, accessed 05 Jun 2026, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/5793

Galathea Cuskeel, Abyssobrotula galatheae Nielsen 1977

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Distribution	NW of Exmouth Gulf , depth 4569-5067 m. Elsewhere the species occurs in deep waters of tropical and subtropical areas of all oceans.
Features	Dorsal fin 97-116; Anal fin 76-96; Pectoral fin 8-11; Pelvic fin 2; Gill rakers, lower limb 9-10 long rakers; Branchiostegal rays 7-8; Vertebrae 18-19 + 50-53 (incl. ural centra). An oviparous, ophidioid fish with a short head, a slightly inferior mouth, and a swollen snout. The scale pockets indicate a coarse squamation on the abdomen. Small eyes, a poorly developed opercular spine, two median and one pair of basibranchial tooth patches, and an A - formed vomer. Pectoral fin elongated with 10-11 rays, two ventral fin-rays in each fin, eight caudal fin-rays, 97-1 16 dorsal and 76-96 anal fin-rays.
Etymology	The species is named for the R/V "Galathea" which caught the first specimens of this species.
Species Citation	Abyssobrotula galatheae Nielsen 1977, Galathea Report 14: 42, Figs. 1-9. Type locality: Kermadec Trench, southern Pacific, 36°07'S, 178°32'W, Galathea station 661, depth 5230-5340 metres.
Author	Bray, D.J. 2026
Resources	Atlas of Living Australia Australian Faunal Directory Catalog of Fishes

Galathea Cuskeel, Abyssobrotula galatheae Nielsen 1977

References

Knudsen, S. 2015. Abyssobrotula galatheae. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T60469175A60796740. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T60469175A60796740.en. Accessed on 06 February 2026.

Nielsen, J.G. 1977. The deepest living fish Abyssobrotula galatheae. A new genus and species of oviparous ophidioids (Pisces, Brotulidae). Galathea Report 14: 41-48.

Nielsen, J.G., Cohen, D.M., Markle, D.F. & Robins, C.R. 1999. Ophidiiform Fishes of the World. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of pearlfishes, cusk-eels, brotulas and other ophidiiform species known to date. FAO Fisheries Synopsis No. 125 Vol. 18. 178 pp.

Staiger, J.C. 1972. Bassogigas profundissimus (Pisces; Brotulidae) from the Puerto Rico Trench. Bulletin of Marine Science 22(l): 26-33.