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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