Bighead Viviparous Brotula, Alionematichthys crassiceps Møller & Schwarzhans 2008


Preserved holotype of the Bighead Viviparous Brotula, Alionematichthys crassiceps, BPBM 9310, from Truk, Caroline Islands. Source: Fig. 4 in Møller & Schwarzhans (2008) The Beagle 24: 87-146. License: All rights reserved

Summary:
A cryptic brotula with a large head, small eyes, the upper preopercular pore present, no cirri on the snout, and scales on the cheeks and opercle. Individuals usually shelter in rocky crevices on shallow reefs. 

Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2019, Alionematichthys crassiceps in Fishes of Australia, accessed 06 Dec 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/4810

Bighead Viviparous Brotula, Alionematichthys crassiceps Møller & Schwarzhans 2008

More Info


Distribution

Off Karratha to off Mermaid Island, Western Australia. Elsewhere the species occurs at oceanic islands of west-central Pacific, from Micronesia in the northern Pacific (Palau, Chuuk) to Vanuatu, Fiji and Tonga in the southern Pacific. This cryptic species usually shelters in rocky crevices. 

Features

Dorsal fin 72-81; Anal fin 57-64; Vertebrae  41-43. 
Eyes small, 1.3-2.5%SL; snout blunt, cirri absent; cheeks scaled, 3-10 scales above opercular spine; upper preopercular pore present; outer pseudoclasper broad-based, simple flap-like, inner pore with free, forward-pointing anterior lobe and broad posterior lobe.

Biology

Viviparous - live bearer. Møller  & Schwarzhans (2008) found that a 5.6 cmSL gravid female contained 95 embryos and approximately 50 orange eggs.

Etymology

The species is named crassiceps after the big head characteristic for the species; crassus (Latin = thick) and adjective ending derived from caput (Latin = head).

Species Citation

Alionematichthys crassiceps Møller & Schwarzhans 2008, Beagle, Rec. Mus. Art Gall. N. T. 24: 95. Type locality: Truk, Caroline Islands, Southfield beach, 8°00'N, 147°00'E, depth 0-4 m.

Author

Bray, D.J. 2019

Resources

Atlas of Living Australia

Bighead Viviparous Brotula, Alionematichthys crassiceps Møller & Schwarzhans 2008

References


Allen, G.R. & Erdmann, M.V. 2012. Reef fishes of the East Indies. Perth : Tropical Reef Research 3 vols, 1260 pp.

Møller, P. R. & Schwarzhans, W. 2008. Review of the Dinematichthyini (Teleostei: Bythitidae) of the Indo-Pacific. Part IV. Dinematichthys and two new genera with descriptions of nine new species. The Beagle, Records of the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory 24: 87-146 (Australian material originally identified as Alionematichthys sp. 2) 

Møller, P. R., Knudsen, S.W., Schwarzhan, W. & Nielsen, J.G. 2016. A new classification of viviparous brotulas (Bythitidae) – with family status for Dinematichthyidae – based on molecular, morphological and fossil data. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 100: 391-408. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2016.04.008

Schwarzhans, W. & Møller, P.R. 2011. New Dinematichthyini (Teleostei: Bythitidae) from the Indo-west Pacific, with the description of a new genus and five new species. The Beagle, Records of the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory 27: 161-177

Quick Facts


CAAB Code:37228108

Depth:0-5 m

Habitat:Reef associated

Max Size:6.3 cm SL

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CAAB distribution map