Halieutopsis vermicularis Smith & Radcliffe, 1912

Family:  Ogcocephalidae (Batfishes)
Max. size:  7.8 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 391 - 1141 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Japan, Philippines, and north of New Guinea.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 5-6; Anal soft rays: 4-4; Vertebrae: 18-18. Interorbital narrow. Ventral surface of disk without tubercles, except lateral line scales on either side of anus. Depressed disk, subtriangular in outline. Triangular rostrum, acutely pointed; overhanging mouth, its terminal spine upswept. Aperture of illicial cavity with a broad dorsal median notch. Gill rakers finger-like pedicels with thin plates filling the angles between the pedicels and gill arch; a cluster of tiny teeth at distal end of each pedicel. Cephalic lateral line scale counts: preopercular 2-4; subopercular 4-6; dorsolateral branch of subopercular 3; supraorbital 6-8. Lateral line scale counts on body 9-11; tail 7-14. Moderately sized fins weak (Ref. 40825).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 13 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:  Type locality, Balayan Bay, Luzon I., 13°44'24"N, 120°45'30"E. Also collected from Sombrero I. at depths of 366-622 m (Ref. 40825).


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