Cocotropus dermacanthus (Bleeker, 1852)
Spinyskin velvetfish
Cocotropus dermacanthus
photo by Williams, J.T.

Family:  Aploactinidae (Velvetfishes)
Max. size:  5.08 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 10 - 30 m
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific: Seychelles and East Indies.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 11-13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-10; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 7-9; Vertebrae: 26-26. Upper jaw relatively long, 12-14% SL; stubby fleshy cirrus near distal end of maxilla absent; first dorsal fin relatively short, 20-21% SL; 2nd dorsal spine 19-20% SL (Ref. 39602). Description: Characterized by having yellowish tan to variable shades of mottled brown color; third dorsal spine tallest; origin of dorsal fin above anterior margin of eye; two small spines in lacrimal; five spines arranged in decreasing size ventrally at rear margin of preopercle; depth of body 2.6 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Found in rubble bottoms in 10-30 m (Ref 90102).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 20 June 2017 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.