Velvet whalefish

Barbourisia rufa

Barbourisia rufa is a rare deep-sea fish from the order of mucus -like head ( Beryciformes ). The 39 inches long expectant juvenile fish lives mesopelagisch than adult animal Benthopelagic in the tropical and temperate regions of all oceans. He probably feeds on crustaceans. The genus and the family are named in honor of the American zoologist Thomas Barbour ( 1884-1946 ).

Features

Barbourisia rufa has a large head and a large, reaching far beyond the small eyes mouth. The teeth are small and are tightly packed in ribbon-shaped arrangement in both jaws. The body is soft and spongy and small, provided with a central mandrel covered sheds, which give the skin a velvety appearance.

The lateral line organ is well developed and extends as a broad, provided with pores and located under the skin flakes protected tape along the body. The fish are colored bright orange. Light organs are not available.

The fins have no hard jets. Dorsal and anal fins are opposite symmetrical, far back on the body. Breast and pelvic fins are very small.

Fins formula: Dorsal 19-22, 15-18 anal, pectoral 13-14, Ventral 6, caudal 19