Teleostei (teleosts) >
Lophiiformes (Anglerfishes) >
Ogcocephalidae (Batfishes)
Etymology: Malthopsis: Greek, malthe, es = a marine fish of soft flesh (Ref. 45335); tetrabulla: Name from combination of Greek 'tetra' for four and Latin 'bulla' for knob, ornament; referring to the four prominent bucklers on the posterior portion of skull.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range 218 - 225 m (Ref. 123774). Tropical
Western Pacific: Australia.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 7.5 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 123774)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal soft rays (total): 4 - 5. This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: D 4-5; pectoral-fin rays 11-13; rostrum short to medium length (6.4%-11.3% SL) and usually directed slightly anterodorsally and recurved; body covered with large, low, blunt conical bucklers; posterior portion of skull with 4 large principal bucklers; broad naked areas on shoulder and around gill cavity; ventral surface of disk is covered with small, similarly shaped bucklers, distinctly larger and denser on breast than belly; subopercular buckler with a prominent, forwardly directed spine; orbit moderate in size, 12.2%-14.9% SL; interorbital space of moderate width, 5.5%-8.0% SL; OD/IO = 1.5-2.3, OD/RL = 1.2-2.0; anal fin not reaching caudal-fin base when fully adpressed (Ref. 123774).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Ho, H.-C. and P. Last, 2021. Review of the batfish genus Malthopsis from Australia (Lophiformes: Ogcocephalidae), with descriptions of a five new species. Bull. Mar. Sci. 97(1):165-218. (Ref. 123774)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = No PD50 data [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01479 (0.00517 - 0.04233), b=2.93 (2.68 - 3.18), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.3 ±0.5 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
