| Microdesmidae (Wormfishes), subfamily: Microdesminae |
| 27 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
|
demersal; marine; depth range 5 - 10 m, |
| Western Atlantic: Bermuda, North Carolina (USA), and northern Gulf of Mexico to the Cayman Islands. Eastern Atlantic: only known from two specimens (one extant) from Joal, Senegal (Ref. 10815, 81289). This species’ appearance in brackish waters of West Africa is likely to be very rare, but cannot be discounted (Ref. 81289). |
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Dorsal spines (total): 19-23. Diagnosis: 62-80 (usually 66-75) total dorsal fin rays, including 19-23 spines; 36-52 (usually 40-47) total anal fin rays; anal fin usually originating between verticals from dorsal fin elements 25-31; caudal fin rounded (Ref. 81289).
Coloration: (based on description of juvenile pigmentation, by Smith&Thacker 2000): body tan, with melanophores scattered over flanks and dorsum, forming a stripe on dorsum and a thinner stripe on flanks; mottled pigmentation on head (Ref. 81289). |
| Known from muddy littoral and estuarine habitats (Ref. 81289). Burrows in shallow muddy and sandy bottoms (Ref. 7251). Postlarvae and early juveniles (to ca 2-2.5 cm SL) may occur in surface plankton to distances of 15 km or more offshore; subadults and adults occasionally found swimming near the surface at night (Ref. 10815). |
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Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 09 January 2014 Ref. (130435)
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| harmless |
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