Microbrotula punicea Anderson, 2007
photo by W. Schwarzhans & J.G. Nielsen

Family:  Bythitidae (Livebearing brotulas)
Max. size: 
Environment:  benthopelagic; marine
Distribution:  Southwestern Pacific: endemic to Kermadec Islands.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 77-82; Anal soft rays: 64-71; Vertebrae: 49-53. This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: vertebrae 11-13 + 38-41 = 49-53; D 77–82, A 64-71, pectoral-fin rays 14, caudal-fin rays 6; anterior dorsal fin ray above vertebra 8-10; anterior anal fin ray below dorsal fin ray 18-21; anterior anal fin ray below vertebra 15–16; head with connected scale patches on cheek, opercle and occiput; papillae on head only between eyes; lateral-line papillae along anterior quarter; spine absent at lower angle of preopercle; posterior mandibular pores 3, lower preopercular pore 1; strong, recurved palatine teeth, in single row; otolith elongate, length to height, 2.4; otolith length to colliculum length, 3.1–3.5 (Ref. 88975).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 16 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans: 


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