Paraliparis cephalus Gilbert, 1892
Swellhead snailfish
photo by Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Canada

Family:  Liparidae (Snailfishes)
Max. size:  8.2 cm SL (male/unsexed); 8.4 cm SL (female)
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 294 - 1800 m
Distribution:  North Pacific: off Commander Islands, central Bering Sea, off Unalaska Island, western Gulf of Alaska, northern British Columbiai to southern California, USA.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 50-57; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 44-51; Vertebrae: 57-63. Pectoral fin deeply notched (Ref. 26773). Skin transparent; musculature pale, with scattered melanophores, especially dense near dorsal and anal fin base; mouth pale or light tan; gill cavity blackish; peritoneum and stomach black; pyloric caeca pale (Ref. 26773).
Biology:  Minimum depth reported at 294 m (Ref. 50610).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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