| Brachionichthyidae (Handfishes) |
| 9.3 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
|
demersal; marine |
| Eastern Indian Ocean: known only from South Australia. |
|
This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: esca is variable in size, length 23-57% (mean 37%) of illicium length (including esca); short to moderately elongate illicium, not thick and fleshy, without dermal spinules, length 15-27% SL, 1.9-3.4 times in head length, its base adjacent upper jaw (pre-illicial length 1.2-3.2% SL); small eye, its diameter 4.8-7.1 times in head length; body is usually densely covered with prominent, close-set, globular or fleshy warts; skin with small, widely spaced, embedded, spiny scales and variably developed dermal flaps; unicuspid or bicuspid spinules, prostrate, their tips embedded or barely visible); second dorsal-fin rays 14-18 (mainly 16-17), fin base length 60-73 (mean 66)% SL; length of second dorsal-fin spine 1.1-1.6 times length of longest ray of second dorsal fin; anal-fin rays 6-9; pectoral-fin rays usually 8; body brownish with lighter and darker blotches and spots; blackish bar on caudal peduncle and caudal-fin base that extends onto hind parts of dorsal and anal fins (Ref. 82446). |
| A benthic species (Ref. 75154) which occurs in inshore waters (Ref. 7300, 75154) of the continental shelf (Ref. 75154). |
|
Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 01 May 2018 Ref. (130435)
|
| harmless |
|
Type locality, St Vincent Gulf, South Australia, SAMA F 626 (holotype of Sympterichthys verrucosus, 3.15 cm SL). Known off Wilson Bluff, central Great Australian Bight (33° 20'S, 130°12'E), eastward to off Bermagui in southern New South Wales, and southward through Bass Strait to Frederick Henry Bay, southeastern Tasmania (ca. 42° 55'S, 147° 36'E); depth to about 230 m (Ref. 82446). Also Ref. 7300. |
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