Grammonus opisthodon

Grammonus opisthodon
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Ophidiiformes
Family:	Bythitidae
Genus:	Grammonus
Species:	G. opisthodon
Binomial name
Grammonus opisthodon Smith, 1934
Synonyms [1]
Grammonoides opisthodon(Smith, 1934) Grammonous opisthodonSmith, 1934

Grammonus opisthodon, the bighead brotula, is a species of fish known from South Africa.

Description

This fish has an eel-like body with a rounded head. It is dark brown in colour with small brown spots on the head. The dorsal, anal and caudal fins are translucent and continuous with many fine rays. ^[2] They have no spiny rays. ^[3] The largest known specimen was 5 cm (2.0 in) long. ^[4]

Distribution and habitat

This fish is known from two nearby sites off the coast of the Eastern Cape of South Africa. It has been found at a depth of 22 m (72 ft) at Port Alfred and the Storms River Mouth. ^[2]

Conservation

Only two specimens have been collected - one prior to 1934 and a second in the early 1980s.This species is currently listed as data deficient by the IUCN as very little is known about it. ^[4]

References

1. "Grammonus opisthodon". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species . Retrieved 15 March 2023.
2. Zsilavecz, Guido (2005). Coastal fishes of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay : a divers' identification guide. Cape Town: Southern Underwater Research Group. ISBN   0-620-34230-7. OCLC   70133147.
3. Cohen, D.M., 1986. Bythitidae. p. 354-356. In M.M. Smith and P.C. Heemstra (eds.) Smiths' sea fishes. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
4. Holleman, W., Fennessy, S., Russell, B. & Maunde, C. 2020. Grammonus opisthodon. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T135442457A137454516. doi : 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T135442457A137454516.en. Accessed on 15 March 2023.