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Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-12; Anal soft rays: 7-7. This species is distinguished by the following combination of character states: reduced dermal spinules, skin only partially covered with bifurcate dermal spinules, that the body appears to be naked, length of spines of each spinule not more than twice the distance between tips of spines; distinct esca ; naked illicium, no dermal spinules, about half length of second dorsal-fin spine; second dorsal-fin spine is unusually long, narrow, without posterior membrane; narrow pectoral-fin lobe, somewhat detached from side of body; with caudal peduncle, the membranous posteriormost margin of soft-dorsal and anal fins attached to body distinctly anterior to base of outermost rays of caudal fin; all rays of caudal fin are usually bifurcate (outermost caudal fin rays simple, 7 innermost bifurcate in UW 117643 and CBG 13028); presence of endopterygoid, pharyngobranchial I, epural and swim bladder; absence of pseudobranch I; D 12; A 7; pectoral-fin rays 9 pelvic-fin rays 5, all simple (posteriormost ray not bifurcated); membranes between rays of paired fins are deeply incised; one or more large basidorsal ocelli often present (Ref. 116699). |
| Typically found in bottoms of brown or black sand, silt, or mud, with some soft corals, gorgonians, and sponges, but very little hard coral; also on pier pilings and occasionally among small patches of filamentous and leafy algae. Also observed to occur in the following habitats of collection sites: from 3-9 m, no deeper than about 18 m with large amounts of tree litter in the shallows, and a lot of trash, rubbish, and human refuse, especially those near native villages and towns (Lembeh Strait); no deeper than 6 m with bottom largely made up of very coarse sand or fine coral rubble, with some hard corals and gorgonians, numerous small cephalopods, many shrimps, crabs, other crustaceans, and lots of fishes, especially juveniles: small shark species, burrowing snake eels, 2 species of Rhinopias (R. eschmeyeri and R. frondosa), and several other species of scorpionfishes and waspfishes, 2 frogfishes were observed, Antennarius striatus and this species (Pantar dive site, Alor Arch.); coarse sand- and rubble-covered slopes, with random solitary and encrusting sponges, hydroids, mixed with lots of human refuse, the latter more or less covered with organic growth, used by animals for shelter (Ambon Bay); on black sandy slopes and most commonly seen during night dives (Bali); and, dark colored individuals most commonly found on coarse sand or gravel, often within patches of green algae, in 4-20 meters while the lighter and more colorful individuals are usually found associated with small, similarly colored sponges, at somewhat greater depths, at 12-30 m (Dauin, Negros I.). This species undergoes a distinct pelagic larval stage before metamorphosis to the adult form (Ref. 116699). |
