Hoplobrotula armata (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846)
Armoured cusk
photo by Senou, H.

Family:  Ophidiidae (Cusk-eels), subfamily: Neobythitinae
Max. size:  70 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 200 - 350 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Japan to off Australia, including the Arafura Sea (Ref. 9819).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): -94. Rather elongate body with blunt head; eye almost as long as snout; upper jaws ends well behind eye; 3 sharp spines on preopercle and 1strong opercular spine; 1 median and a pair of basibranchial tooth patches; 5-6 developed rakers on anterior gill arch; pelvic fins inserted beneath eye; precaudal vertebrae 13 (Ref. 34024). Snout spine present (Ref. 34024).
Biology:  Found on the shelf and shelf edge (Ref. 11230). Common species (Ref. 34024). Oviparous, with oval pelagic eggs floating in a gelatinous mass (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 16 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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