Acanthoplesiops psilogaster Hardy, 1985
Barebelly longfin
Acanthoplesiops psilogaster
photo by The Fish Database of Taiwan

Family:  Plesiopidae (Roundheads), subfamily: Acanthoclininae
Max. size:  2.26 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 5 - 20 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: known only from southern Japan, Taiwan, and Philippines.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 19-20; Dorsal soft rays (total): 4-5; Anal spines: 7-8; Anal soft rays: 4-5. Acanthoplesiops species with the following autapomorphic character states: 1) anterior two thirds of belly naked and 2) first two (instead of only the 1st) pterygiophores of dorsal-fin spines inserted between 2nd and 3rd neural spines. Description: Characterized by dark brown to blackish color, including median and pelvic fins; orange to yellow tips/outer margin of dorsal, anal, caudal and pelvic fins; vertebrae 13-14+14; tubed lateral line scales 5-10; sensory pores on dentary 3; without scales on belly; no papillae on head; depth of body at origin of dorsal fin 4.1-4.3 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Cryptic and rarely seen (Ref. 90102). Eggs are guarded by the male parent (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:  Museum: Chawa Point, Batan Islands, Batanes Province, USNM 288813. Also Ref. 90102.


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