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).
| Brachybembras | |
|---|---|
Scientific 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
| |
Taxonomy
editBrachybembras 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
editThe 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
editBrachybembras 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
editBrachybembras 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
edit- ^ a b 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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) - ^ 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.
- ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Brachybembras aschemeieri". FishBase. February 2022 version.