| Carapidae (Pearlfishes), subfamily: Carapinae |
| 21 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
|
reef-associated; marine; depth range 1 - 150 m, non-migratory |
| Indo-Pacific: East Africa to Hawaii, throughout Micronesia and Amami Islands, southern Japan. |
|
Dorsal soft rays (total): 35-41; Anal soft rays: 54-61; Vertebrae: 102-114. Eel-like, moderate to shallow body depth; cardiform teeth present but restricted to upper jaw symphysis; swim bladder constricted (under vertebrae 9 or 10) forming two chambers; lacking enlarged dentary or premaxillary fangs, dentary diastema, pelvic fins and swim bladder rockerbone (Ref. 34024). Differs from Encheliophis homei by possessing scattered melanophores over most of the body (Ref. 37816).
Description: Characterized by generally translucent; with small brown spots and silvery to coppery sheen over cheek and abdomen; length of pectoral fin 2.1-3.0 in head length; depth of body 9.3-11.5 in TL; anus anterior to base of pectoral fin; head length 6.5-7.1 in TL; a pair of slender, incurved canines at symphysis in upper jaw followed by band of small teeth in 2-3 rows; band of small teeth in lower jaw; outer row on side of jaw with about seven enlarged teeth; 2-3 large teeth in vomer (Ref. 90102). |
| Common species (Ref. 34024). Found in starfishes (mainly) and holothurians (Ref. 4104), usually in a male - female pair (Ref. 11228). Benthic (Ref. 58302). In Micronesia, it prefers the pincushion starfish Culcita novaeguinae for a host. Also known to occur in certain holothurians (Bohadschia argus, Stichopus sp.) on rare occasions (Ref. 1602); for the first time with Isostichopus fuscus along the coast of Ecuador (Ref. 57700). |
|
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 15 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
|
| harmless |
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