Dibranchus hystrix Garman, 1899

Family:  Ogcocephalidae (Batfishes)
Max. size:  12.5 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 914 - 2323 m
Distribution:  Eastern Pacific: mouth of Gulf of California to Gulf of Guayaquil and west nearly to Galapagos Islands. One record from the South China Sea.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 4-6; Anal soft rays: 4-4; Vertebrae: 18-19. Tubercles on sides of tail with extremely long spines. Small tubercles on ventral surface of disk, widely spaced so skin seems naked. In larger specimens, tubercles are sometimes truly absent. Except for 2 short longitudinal rows of tubercles anterior to the anal fin base, the principal tubercles occupy most of the ventral surface of tail; tubercles in skin covering bases of principal tubercles absent. Cephalic lateral-line counts: subopercular 5-6 (usually 5), preopercular, 2-3 (usually 2). Tail lateral-line counts 8-13. Fin-rays without tubercles, except sometimes a few found at the pectoral base. Pectoral fins slender. Pelvic fins with thickened skin on rays (Ref. 40826).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 13 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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