Sulu Viviparous Brotula

This species is distinguished by the following characters: D 72-82; A 56-64; moderately large eyes (2.1-2.5%SL); slender body; no cirri on snout; scales only cheeks; with upper preopercular pore; outer pseudoclasper moderately broad-based, long, sometimes beyond the hood when in resting position, while the inner one is half as long as the outer one, the anterior lobe large very long, twice as long as the posterior lobe; otolith length to height 2.1-2.2, with shallow dorsal rim and postdorsal angle; otolith length to sulcus length 1.7-1.8, ostium length to cauda length 3.3-3.7; vertebrae 11-12 + 30-32 = 41-43 (Ref. 81230).Description: Characterized by caudal rays 16-17; depth of body at anal fin origin 13.5-18.4 (mean 15.8) % SL; anterior nostril high on snout, about one-third or less distance from lip to anterior rim of eye (Ref. 90102).

Dorsal soft rays (total): 72 - 82; Analsoft rays: 56 - 64; Vertebrae: 41 - 43

Occurs in rocky surge area, rocky tidepool. A 3.9 cm SL gravid female (USNM 376179) with 325 embryos, 0.37 cm TL in length. Collected by rotenone (Ref. 81230). Cryptic, solitary inhabitant of shallow water (usually