Pyramodon punctatus (Regan, 1914) Dogtooth pearlfish |
photo by
Parmentier, E. |
Family: | Carapidae (Pearlfishes), subfamily: Pyramodontinae | |||
Max. size: | 29 cm TL (male/unsexed) | |||
Environment: | benthopelagic; marine; depth range 120 - 731 m | |||
Distribution: | Indo-West Pacific: off East London, South Africa; Australia and New Zealand. | |||
Diagnosis: | Eel-like, moderate to relatively deep body depth; a large single vomerine fang; pelvic fin rays present; swim bladder large, filling visceral cavity and extending past anus; dorsal and anal fin radials robust and elongate; dorsal fin anteriad or directly over anal fin origin; lacking rockerbone, cardiform teeth, and intrinsic swim bladder constrictions or tunic ridges (Ref. 34024). Body lightly pigmented with dorsal and anal fin margins pigmented over posterior quarter; precaudal vertebrae 17-19; anus more posterior with distance from snout to anus 130 to 151% head length (Ref. 34024). | |||
Biology: | A benthic (Ref. 75154) and rare species (Ref. 34024). Probably a free-living species of the outer shelf and upper continental slope. | |||
IUCN Red List Status: | Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 16 August 2019 Ref. (130435) | |||
Threat to humans: | harmless | |||
Country info: |
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