Brachybembras
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Scorpaeniformes
Family: Bembridae
Genus: Brachybembras
Fowler, 1938
Species:
B. aschemeieri
Binomial name
Brachybembras aschemeieri
Fowler, 1938

Brachybembras is monotypic genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Bembridae, the deepwater flatheads. Its only species, Brachybembras aschemeieri, is known only from the Pacific Ocean around the Philippines where it is found at a depth of around 582 metres (1,909 ft).

Taxonomy

Brachybembras was first described as a genus in 1938 by the American zoologist Henry Weed Fowler[1] when he described its only species B. aschemieri. The type locality of B. aschemieri was given as off Jolo Light, near Jolo in the Philippines.[2]

Etymology

The genus name combines brachy, “short”, with Bembras as this taxon has a shorter snout than Bembras. The specific name honours Charles R. W. Aschemeier (1892-1973), a taxidermist at the U.S. National Museum of Natural History.[3]

Characteristics

Brachybembras has no spines in the anal fin, a terminal lower jaw which does not protrude beyond the upper jaw and having the maxillae being relatively wide to its rear. There are 8 spines in the first dorsal fin and 12 soft rays in the second. The lateral line has 32 scales. The pectoral fins each have 21 fin rays.

There is a strong suborbital ridge created by the second and third infraorbital bones and this bears 5 spines.[4] There are 11 spines in the anal fin and the eyes are large, being a third of the size of the head.

The colour is described as being pale brown, paler on the head with a whitish snout. The fins are greyish withwhite rays.[5]

Distribution and habitat

Brachybembras is found in the tropical western Pacific Ocean where it has been recorded from the Philippines.[1] It is a benthopelagic species which has been recorded at depths down to 582 m (1,909 ft).[6]

References

  1. 1 2 Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Bembridae". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  2. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Brachybembras". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  3. ↑ Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara (22 September 2018). "Order PERCIFORMES: Suborder PLATYCEPHALOIDEI: Families BEMBRIDAE, PARABEMBRIDAE, PLATYCEPHALIDAE, HOPLICHTHYIDAE and PLECTROGENIIDAE". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  4. ↑ S,G, Poss (1999). "Bembridae Deepwater flatheads". In Carpenter, K.E.; Niem, V.H. (eds.). FAO species identification guide for fishery purposes. The living marine resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 4. Bony fishes part 2 (Mugilidae to Carangidae). FAO, Rome. pp. 2383–2384. ISBN 9251043019.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ↑ Fowler, H. W. (1938). "Descriptions of new fishes obtained by the United States Bureau of Fisheries steamer "Albatross", chiefly in Philippine seas and adjacent waters". Proceedings of the United States National Museum. 85 (3032): 31–135. doi:10.5479/si.00963801.85-3032.31.
  6. ↑ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2022). "Brachybembras aschemeieri" in FishBase. February 2022 version.
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