Psychrolutes microporos

Psychrolutes microporos is a species of deepwater marine fish in the family Psychrolutidae, commonly known as a blobfish or fathead. It is found in the abyssal zone in waters around Australia and New Zealand.

Psychrolutes microporos
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Scorpaeniformes
Family: Psychrolutidae
Genus: Psychrolutes
Species:
P. microporos
Binomial name
Psychrolutes microporos
J. S. Nelson, 1995 [1]

Discovery

A specimen of Psychrolutes microporos was trawled by the RV James Cook in 1983 and described by Joseph Nelson in 1995. The holotype is in the Museum of New Zealand.[2] Another specimen was collected at a depth of 980 m (3,200 ft) off the coast of New Zealand.[3] Another specimen was collected in 2007 in the Tasman Sea at a depth of 1,200 m (3,900 ft).

Description

Psychrolutes microporos is a whitish colour and is flattened laterally. It has a wide mouth and a short, fleshy proboscis.[4]

Distribution

Psychrolutes microporos is found in the abyssal depths between the Australian mainland and Tasmania.[5] Two specimens were collected in the month-long NORFANZ Expedition of 2003 which was examining the biodiversity of the seamounts and slopes of the Norfolk Ridge. They averaged 1.7 kg (4 lb) and were found in a single location.[6]

Biology

The texture of Psychrolutes microporos's body is gelatinous, a feature often found in deep sea fish. Little is known of its behaviour because of the difficulty of observing it in its natural habitat.[5] It is thought to be an ambush predator, consuming anything edible that comes within its reach.[4]

References
  1. Psychrolutes microporos - Nelson, 1995 World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2011-10-28.
  2. Blobfish, Psychrolutes microporos Nelson, 1995; holotype Museum of New Zealand. Retrieved 2011-10-28.
  3. Psychrolutes microporos - Nelson, 1995 FishBase. Retrieved 2011-10-28.
  4. Blobfish: Psychrolutes microporos Archived 2008-10-16 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2011-10-28.
  5. Animales Extraños. Retrieved 2011-10-28.
  6. NORFANZ Voyage Archived 2012-04-15 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2011-10-28.
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