| Carapidae (Pearlfishes), subfamily: Carapinae |
| 30 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
|
reef-associated; marine; depth range - 62 m, non-migratory |
| Indo-West Pacific: in tropical waters. |
|
Dorsal soft rays (total): 25-36; Anal soft rays: 42-52; Vertebrae: 136-140. Eel-like, moderate to shallow body depth; maxilla adnate or nearly so; cardiform teeth present; branchiostegal membranes partly or completely united; swim bladder with thin terminal membrane or bulb; lacking enlarged dentary or premaxillary fangs, dentary diastema, pelvic fins, and swim bladder rocker bone (Ref. 34024). Swim bladder long, tubular, extending well beyond 12th vertebra (Ref. 34024).
Description: Characterized by translucent coloring; often with numerous small dark spots; usually blackish posterior portion of tail; length of pectoral fin 2.5-3.2 in head length; long and slender body, depth about 20 in TL; very low dorsal and anal rays; anal rays anterior to origin of dorsal fin; head length about 8.5-10.5 in TL; immobile maxilla, bound by skin to side of head; single row of jaw teeth , well spaced, upper jaw teeth hooked posteriorly; 2-3 enlarged teeth in vomer; palatines with single row of teeth (Ref. 90102). |
| Uncommon species (Ref. 34024). Benthic (Ref. 58302, 75154). Lives in starfish (Culcita discoidea) and sea cucumbers (Holothuria scabra and H. argus). In the latter reported by Trott (1970) to form male - female pairs and to parasite host. Parasitic, feeding on gonads and respiratory tree of its host. Usually associated with Bohadschia argus (Ref 90102). |
|
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 15 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
|
| harmless |
|
This species was taken from the coelom of the holothurian Holothuria argus, Puerto Galera, Mindoro (Ref. 6395). |
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