Triplewart seadevil
| Triplewart seadevil | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Triplewart seadevil with parasitic male attached (arrow) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Lophiiformes |
| Family: | Ceratiidae |
| Genus: | Cryptopsaras T. N. Gill, 1883 |
| Species: | C. couesii |
| Binomial name | |
| Cryptopsaras couesii T. N. Gill, 1883 | |
The triplewart seadevil, Cryptopsaras couesii, is a sea devil of the family Ceratiidae, found in all oceans, from the surface to 2,000 m (6,600 ft). Its length is about 30 cm (12 in) for females and 1.05 cm (0.41 in) for males.[1] This species is the only known member of its genus.
Sexual dimorphism
The species displays extreme sexual dimorphism. Females are more typical in appearance to other anglerfishes, whereas the males are tiny rudimentary creatures with stunted digestive systems. A male must find a female and attach to her near the vent; he then lives on her parasitically, becoming little more than a sperm-producing appendage.
References
- ↑ Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2006). "Cryptopsaras couesii" in FishBase. March 2006 version.
- Tony Ayling & Geoffrey Cox, Collins Guide to the Sea Fishes of New Zealand, (William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1982) ISBN 0-00-216987-8
External links
Data related to Cryptopsaras couesii at Wikispecies
Media related to Cryptopsaras couesii at Wikimedia Commons
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