General Description

A pale spiderfish with tiny laterally-directed eyes, dark scale margins especially on the upper body, a dark head, anterior chest and mouth cavity, dark dorsal, anal and pelvic fins with pale outer margins, a mostly dark caudal fin, and pale pectoral fins. The upper 3-4th pectoral-fin rays are longer than the body and divided posteriorly. The anterior pelvic-fin rays are elongate, divided and thickened posteriorly. Up to 35 cm long.

Biology

Individuals prop tripod-like on their long pelvic and caudal fin rays, raising their bodies off the seafloor. They face into the current, extending their long sensory pectoral fins forward to detect the movement of zooplankton such as small crustaceans that drift by in the current. Underwater ROV images have shown the trails made when these fishes 'walk' over the seafloor on their pelvic fins and lower tail fin lobe. Feeds on small planktonic crustaceans, fishes and squid detected with the long pectoral-fin rays. Spiderfishes (family Ipnopidae) are simultaneous hermaphrodites. Individuals have an ovotestis containing functional male and female reproductive tissue.

Distribution

Off southern Queensland to off southern New South Wales, and the Lord Howe Rise and Norfolk Ridge in the Tasman Sea. Elsewhere the species occurs around New Zealand. Inhabits deep soft sediment areas on the continental slope and abyssal plain. In Australian waters, the species has been collected from depths of 995-1043 m, while elsewhere it is known to occur at depths to 5000 m.

Habitat

Bathydemersal

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