Chaunax albatrossae Ho & Ma, 2022
Albatross frogmouth
Albatross frogmouth

Family:  Chaunacidae (Sea toads o coffinfishes)
Max. size:  13.77 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 195 - 702 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Phiippines.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 3-3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-12; Anal soft rays: 7-7. This small species of the Chaunax abei species group is distinguished by the following characters: a dark gray mouth cavity and dark brown to black gill chamber and gill rakers; skin with short, simple spinules; lateral-line neuromasts in upper preopercular series 2-4 (mainly 3), in pectoral series12-13, in body series, including those on caudal fin 28-33 (30–32); gill rakers on second gill arch 10-12 (11); eye large (9.6-12.0% SL); head relatively long (42.4-46.3% SL), pre-preopercular length 31.1-32.1% SL, predorsal length 51.1-53.0% SL, upper-jaw 25.0-26.2% SL. Colouration: peritoneum black and the body when preserved is uniformly creamy-white, including esca (Ref. 127469).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:  Type locality of Chaunax albatrossae, off Luzon Island. Collected from Tablas Strait, Iligan Bay, off Mindanao and Sogod Bay, off Leyte I. (Ref. 127469).


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.