Chordates • Earth.com

Murray's abyssal anglerfish

(Melanocetus murrayi)

galery

Description

Melanocetus murrayi,commonly known as Murray's abyssal anglerfish,is a deep sea anglerfish in the family Melanocetidae,found in tropical to temperate parts of the world's oceans at depths down to over 2,000 m (6,600 ft).Its length is up to 13.5 cm (5 in) for females and up to 2.8 cm (1.1 in) for males.Like other anglerfish in the genus,the female M.murrayi has a large oblique mouth,jaws with long depressible fangs,small nostrils raised on a prominence,an illiceum (a long modified dorsal spine used as a lure),and skin without scales.It differs from others in the genus in having the width between the eyes between 2/5 and 4/7 of the width of the head and the lower jaw being 2/5 to 1/2 the fish's length.The illicium is 1/4 to 1/3 the length of the fish,and the bioluminescent esca on the tip is oval,sometimes with a raised crest at the back.The second dorsal fin has 12 to 14 soft rays,the anal fin has 3 to 4,the pectoral fin 15 to 18 and the caudal fin 9.Females grow to a length of about 13.5 cm (5 in) and males to 2.8 cm (1.1 in).

Taxonomic tree:

Domain:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum:
Class: Actinopterygii
Order:Lophiiformes
Family:Melanocetidae
Genus:Melanocetus
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