Ghost Velvetfish, Cocotropus larvatus Poss & Allen 1987
A Ghost Velvetfish, Cocotropus larvatus, at Anilao, Philippines, May 2015. Source: Scott Johnson / FishBase. License: CC By Attribution-NonCommercial
Summary:
A well-camouflaged pale greyish velvetfish with brown spots scattered on the head, especially around the snout, and irregular brownish spots on the fins. The Ghost Velvetfish has a distinctly concave snout.
Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2020, Cocotropus larvatus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 11 Sep 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/5172
Ghost Velvetfish, Cocotropus larvatus Poss & Allen 1987
More Info
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Distribution |
Christmas Island, eastern Indian Ocean, AUS EEZ. Elsewhere the species occurs in the East Indo-west Pacific: Christmas Island, Banda islands, Indonesia, northern Papua New Guinea, Marshall Islands, Ryukyu Islands, Japan. Inhabits sandy and rubble areas on outer reef slopes in depths to 40 m. |
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Features |
Dorsal fin XIII, 9-10; Anal fin II, 8-9; Pectoral fin 13-14; Gill rakers 3 + 6–9 = 9–12. Body very compressed, depth 2.8-3.2 in SL; snout and interorbital distinctly concave; lacrimal bone with two small spines; preopercular margin with 5 blunt spines; papillae present on outer edge of lower jaw; anterior tip of isthmus reaching to level of 5th sensory pore on lower jaw. Dorsal-fin origin above middle of eye. |
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Etymology |
The specific name larvatus is from the Latin larva (= ghost), in reference to the small size and ghost-like appearance of this species. |
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Species Citation |
Cocotropus larvatus Poss & Allen 1987, Mem. Mus. Vict. 48(1): 79. Type locality: outside reef off Ennubuj Islet, Kwahalein Atoll, Marshall Islands, depth 15 m. |
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Author |
Bray, D.J. 2020 |
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Resources |
Catalog of Fishes
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Ghost Velvetfish, Cocotropus larvatus Poss & Allen 1987
References
Allen, G.R. & Erdmann, M.V. 2012. Reef fishes of the East Indies. Perth : Tropical Reef Research 3 vols, 1260 pp.
Allen, G.R., Steene, R.C. & Orchard, M. 2007. Fishes of Christmas Island. Christmas Island : Christmas Island Natural History Association 2 edn, 284 pp.
Johnson, J.W. 2004. Two new species and two new records of aploactinid fishes (Pisces: Scorpaeniformes) from Australia. Records of the Australian Museum 56(2): 179-188 DOI: 10.3853/j.0067-1975.56.2004.1421
Poss, S.G. 1999. Families Scorpaenidae, Caracanthidae, Aploactinidae. pp. 2291-2358 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, T.H. (eds) The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 4 pp. 2069-2790.
Poss, S.G. & Allen, G.R. 1987. New Australian fishes. Part 18. A new species of Cocotropus (Aploactinidae). Memoirs of Museum Victoria 48(1): 79-82 See ref at BHL.
