Chaunax fimbriatus Hilgendorf, 1879
Tassled coffinfish
photo by Ho, H.-C.

Family:  Chaunacidae (Sea toads o coffinfishes)
Max. size:  14 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 500 - 1985 m
Distribution:  Northwest Pacific: Japan and Taiwan; most probably in East China Sea and/or the Okinawa Trough, but rarely in the South China Sea. No reliable reports outside this area and need to be checked.
Diagnosis:  A species belonging to the C. fimbriatus species group which is distinguished mainly from its congeners by having two large pale patches on its dorsal surface, one associated with the embedded third dorsal spine and another before the origin of the soft dorsal fin; mainly four neuromasts in the lower preopercular series (vs. mainly 3 in other congeners) (Ref. 94130).
Biology:  Benthic (Ref. 58302). Edible (Ref. 637).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 12 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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