| Family: |
Schindleriidae (Infantfishes) |
| Max. size: |
0.84 cm SL (female) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 15 - 30 m |
| Distribution: |
Western Pacific: Australia. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-13; Anal soft rays: 10-11; Vertebrae: 35-36. Body small, stout, unpigmented. Body depth at pectoral-fin origin 9-12% of standard length and at anal-fin origin 9-14% SL. First dorsal-fin ray at myomere 18-20 and first anal-fin ray below dorsal-fin ray 4. Vertebrae 20 + 15-16 = 35-36, myomeres 19-20 + 14-16 = 34-36. Premaxillae and dentaries lack teeth. Males have a rod-like, flexible urogenital papilla lacking lobes, projections, or accessory papillae, with distal half tapering to a blunt point and usually anteriorly directed. |
| Biology: |
Recently reported as the smallest vertebrate. Males average 7.7 millimeters long and the gravid female which is 8.4 millimeters weighed 1 milligram. This pedomorphic species has a life span of only 2 months, has dispensed its fishy appendages such as teeth and scales, and has no pigment except in the eyes (Ref. 52508). Specimens were collected in oblique plankton net tows (Ref. 52019). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 04 February 2009 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
| Country info: |
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