|
Malthopsis austrafricana Ho, 2013 Southern African triangular batfish |
| Family: | Ogcocephalidae (Batfishes) | |||
| Max. size: | 8.4 cm SL (male/unsexed) | |||
| Environment: | demersal; marine; depth range 170 - 700 m | |||
| Distribution: | Western Indian Ocean: off South Africa, Mozambique and Madagascar. | |||
| Diagnosis: | This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: body covered with conical bucklers and numerous prickles; long rostrum (mean 8.3% SL) is stout, pointed, with a broad base, directed forward horizontally; top of head with 3 irregular rows of bucklers; ventral surface of disk is densely covered by prickles and small flat bucklers, some have slightly larger and denser bucklers on breast than on belly; blunt subopercular buckler without well-developed spines; small orbit (mean 12.5% SL); small spinelets on the tips of both post-subopercular bucklers; broad interorbital space (mean 8.4% SL), forming a deep groove; OD/RL = 1.1-1.9; OD/IO = 1.3-1.7; when depressed, anal fin reaches or is beyond caudal-fin base (Ref. 94126). | |||
| Biology: | ||||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 13 August 2019 Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||