Birds on the Brain

rhamphotheca:

Four-barbel Net Devil Anglerfish (Linophryne algibarbata)

by Christopher Kenaley

Known from nine metamorphosed females (28–182 mm) and two parasitic males (23–29 mm). The nine known females of Linophryne algibarbata were all collected in the Western North Atlantic Ocean between 30° and 63°N, and all west of 30°W. Meso- and bathypelagic, demersal. The 28-mm holotype was caught in a closing net at 400m.

Metamorphosed females of Linophryne algibarbata differ from those of all other species of the genus in details of escal and barbel morphology: escal bulb globular, that of small specimens surrounded distally and laterally by a blunt ridge; escal filaments or other appendages absent.

Parasitized females have a single attached male. In all known cases parasitized females of the family, the male is directed forward with respect to the female and attached in nearly the same position on the ventral midline of the female, somewhat in front of and below the sinistral anus; with only one or two exceptions, all are attached upside down with respect to the female. In all known examples, the males are attached by both upper and lower jaws, leaving prominent openings on each side that lead into their mouths and opercular cavities…

(read more: Deep Sea Fishes of the World)

(images: T - Museum of Comparative Zool., Harvard Univ., B - Tambja)