Black Crinoid Clingfish

This small species is distinguished by the following characters: D 9; A 7-8; pectoral-fin rays 22-23; principal caudal-fin rays 12; colouration plain black without white stripes; head short with head length 4.7-4.9 in SL and narrow with head width 7.5-8.5 in SL; anus posteriorly situated, with disc-to-anus distance 3.2-3.5 in SL; 3 rows of papillae distally on disc region B; 2 central papillae clusters on disc region B with only 2 papillae each (Ref. 98449).

Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Analsoft rays: 7 - 8

Collected on a crinoid, Oxycomanthus bennetti (Müller, 1841), black colour phase with green tentacles (family Comasteridae). Exact locality and depth where the species was collected unknown (due to confusion of station data) but was probably collected in a pass leading out of the lagoon, with a depth between 5 and 20 m. (Ref. 98449).

Unguitrema nigrum, also known as the Black crinoid clingfish is a species of clingfish endemic to Papua New Guinea. This species occurs Madang Lagoon in Madang District, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea. This species is the only known member of its genus. It was collected from a crinoid, Oxycomanthus bennetti, of the black phase.