Malakichthys wakiyae Jordan & Hubbs, 1925
Malakichthys wakiyae
photo by National Museum of Marine Science and Technology, Taiwan

Family:  Malakichthyidae (Temperate ocean-basses)
Max. size:  15 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic-neritic; marine; depth range - 200 m
Distribution:  Northwest Pacific: southern Japan, the East China Sea and around Taiwan.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 9-10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-10; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-9; Vertebrae: 10-15. This species has the following characters: chin with a pair of distinct spines; proximal-middle radial of first anal-fin pterygiophore slender with no hollow; well developed lateral wing; 13 (rarely 12) pectoral-fin rays; A III, 9 (rarely 8); longest anal-fin ray is shorter than half of base of anal fin; body depth 34-41% LS; lateral line scales 48-51; gill rakers 22-24 on lower arm (Ref. 76883). Body uniformly brownish-silver dorsally, white ventrally (Ref. 559).
Biology:  Feeds on small crustaceans and fishes, among others (Ref. 559). Caught in depths of less than 150 m (Ref. 637).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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