| Family: |
Microdesmidae (Wormfishes), subfamily: Ptereleotrinae |
| Max. size: |
2.3 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 25 - 31 m |
| Distribution: |
Western Pacific: Brunei Darussalam. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-13; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 10-12; Vertebrae: 26-26. This species is distinguished by the following characters: D VI + I,11-13 (rarely 13), the spines of first dorsal fin with protruding filaments; A I,10-12 (rarely 12); pectoral-fin rays 18-19; scales in longitudinal series 52-58; total gill rakers on first arch 15-16; segmented caudal-fin rays 17; branched caudal-fin rays 11; forked caudal fin with filament on upper and lower lobe; no preopercular pores; interorbital pores paired; colour in life semi-translucent grey with yellowish hue; with short yellow stripe on snout and from upper eye to pectoral-fin base; blue stripe from mid-interorbital to first dorsal-fin origin; dorsal fins are translucent with yellowish hue, both dorsal fins have prominent basal and submarginal blue stripes; caudal fin yellowish to yellow-brown with blue upper and lower margins (Ref. 105381). |
| Biology: |
Form loose aggregations of 10-50 individuals, observed hovering 50-100 cm above the substrate on a very gradual but strongly current-swept sand and rubble slope in 28-31 m depth. Collection reef with visibility invariably quite low (5-8 m maximum) and where there was frequently a minor thermocline at the 20-25 m depth range, with the fish exposed to moderately cooler temperatures down to 27°C. When approached too closely, individuals would dive into burrows in the sand, sometimes individually but also multiple individuals entering the same burrow (Ref. 105381). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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