Ogcocephalus parvus Longley & Hildebrand, 1940
Roughback batfish
Ogcocephalus parvus
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Ogcocephalidae (Batfishes)
Max. size:  10 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 5.8 g
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 29 - 126 m
Distribution:  Western Atlantic: North Carolina and northern Gulf of Mexico in USA to Brazil; absent from Bahamas.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 4-4; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 4-4; Vertebrae: 18-20. Exceptionally angular, craggy body contours and large, prominent bucklers. Very small width of mouth relative to head depth 2-2.8; Narrow interorbital width to head depth 3.6-6.6. Rostrum length to disk margin length 3.2-5.1. Distal ends of pectorals with fleshy ventral pads. Vertebrae usually 19. Lateral line scale count: subopercular usually 5 or 6 (4-8); cheek usually 8 (7-9). Lateral line scale count usually 17 (Ref. 40824).
Biology:  Inhabits offshore water, usually from 54-125 m depth.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 16 September 2014 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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