Chaunax obscurus Ho & Ma, 2022
Black-mouth frogmouth

Family:  Chaunacidae (Sea toads o coffinfishes)
Max. size:  25.4 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 200 - 300 m
Distribution:  Northwest Pacific: Taiwan.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 3-3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-12; Anal soft rays: 7-7. This species of the Chaunax fimbriatus group is distinguished from other members by its black mouth cavity and gill chamber; skin with simple spinules; caudal peduncle relatively short (TL1 = 25.5% SL, TL2 = 17.9% SL, TL3 = 13.5% SL); flanking neuromasts with 3-5 spinules; modal lateral-line neuromasts: upper preopercular series 2, infraorbital series 6, lower preopercular series 3 or 4, hyomandibular series 3 and pectoral series 11 or 12; pectoral-fin rays 13 or 14. Colouration: when fresh orange-red with irregular small yellow patterns on dorsal surface, the latter turning pale when preserved and yellowish green to brown esca (Ref. 127469).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.