Microbrotula queenslandica Anderson, 2005
Queensland cusk
photo by W. Schwarzhans & J.G. Nielsen

Family:  Bythitidae (Livebearing brotulas)
Max. size:  3.12 cm SL (male/unsexed); 2.95 cm SL (female)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 22 - 30 m
Distribution:  Southwestern Pacific: endemic to Australia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 78-80; Anal soft rays: 62-63; Vertebrae: 48-48. A species of Microbrotula distinguished by the following set of characters: vertebrae 12 + 36 = 48; D 78-80, A 62-63, pectoral-fin rays 11, caudal fin rays 6; dorsal-fin origin above vertebra 7; anterior anal fin origin below dorsal fin ray 21; anal-fin origin below vertebrae 15–17; head with separated scale patches on cheek and occiput, absent on opercle; numerous papillae on entire head; no lateral-line papillae; forward-curved spine at lower angle of preopercle with two points, hidden by skin; 3 posterior mandibular pores, 1 lower preopercular pore; palatine with papillae-like teeth; elongated otolith, length to height, 2.3; otolith length to colliculum length, 2.3 (Ref. 88975).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 16 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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 Not for publication.