Teleostei (teleosts) >
Ophidiiformes (Cusk eels) >
Dinematichthyidae (Viviparous brotula)
Etymology: Dermatopsis: Greek, derma = skin + Greek, opsis = appearance (Ref. 45335); hoesei: Named for Doug Hoese, Australian Museum, Sydney.
Eponymy: Dr Douglass Fielding ‘Doug’ Hoese (d: 1942) is Senior Fellow, Ichthyology Collection, Australian Museum, Sydney. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on authors: Møller & Schwarzhans.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 4 m (Ref. 57886). Subtropical; 29°S - 37°S (Ref. 57886)
Western Pacific: SE Australia, south of the Great Barrier Reef, chiefly along the shores of New South Wales.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 4.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 57886); 4.8 cm SL (female)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal soft rays (total): 67 - 77; Anal soft rays: 46 - 53; Vertebrae: 40 - 43. The species is characterized by the following: vertebrae 11-14 + 27-31 = 40-43, dorsal fin rays 67-77, anal fin rays 46-53; no scales on the head and body; posterior nostril large, about half size of eye; lower preopercular pore large, about size of posterior nostril or larger; weak spine on maxilla positioned behind rear tip of eye; single pair of pseudoclaspers curved, expanded and paddle-like, longer than penis, without fleshy appendices; otolith with pointed posterior tip and concavity above and massive postdorsal angle, otolith length to height ratio 1.9-2.0, sulcus with divided colliculi (Ref. 57886).
Body shape (shape guide): elongated.
Occurs along rocky shores at shallow depths. A female specimen (AMS 15330-037, 42 mm SL), contained 3 embryos, 11-16 mm SL. The species is pale except for some weak pigmentation on top of head (Ref. 57886).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Møller, P.R. and W. Schwarzhans, 2006. Review of the Dinematichthyini (Teleostei, Bythitidae) of the Indo-west Pacific, Part II. Dermatopsis, Dermatopsoides and Dipulus with description of six new species. The Beagle 22:39-76. (Ref. 57886)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Tools
Special reports
Download XML
Internet sources