Soft Leafvent Angler, Haplophryne mollis (Brauer, 1902)

ANIMAL SPECIES:Soft Leafvent Angler, Haplophryne mollis (Brauer, 1902)

The Soft Leafvent Angler is a sexually dimorphic species. Females have rounded, unpigmented bodies. They have several spines on the head and a rounded esca on the snout.

Identification

The Soft Leafvent Angler is a sexually dimorphic species. Females have rounded, unpigmented bodies. They have several spines on the head and a rounded esca on the snout.

Size range

Females grow to around 8 cm in length, but males only grow to about 2 cm.

Distribution

Soft Leafvent Anglers occurs in deep tropical and subtropical marine waters of all oceans.

In Australia specimens have been trawled from off central to southern New South Wales and east of Tasmania, but the species is almost certainly more widespread.

Distribution by collection data

Biomaps map of Soft Leafvent Angler specimens in the Australian Museum collection.

What does this mean?

Behaviour and adaptations

Mating and reproduction

Mature males are usually seen permanently attached to females. When a free-living male encounters a female, it bites the female and the skin of his mouth eventually fuses with that of the female. The male then becomes parasitic on the female.

Classification

Species:: mollis
Genus:: Haplophryne
Family:: Linophrynidae
Order:: Lophiiformes
Class:: Actinopterygii
Subphylum:: Vertebrata
Phylum:: Chordata
Kingdom:: Animalia

What does this mean?

References

Bertelsen, E., & Pietsch, T.W. 1983. The Ceratioid Anglerfishes of Australia. Records of the Australian Museum. 35: 77-99.
Paxton, J.R., D.F. Hoese, G.R. Allen & J.E. Hanley. 1989. Zoological Catalogue of Australia Vol.7. Pisces Petromyzontidae to Carangidae. Canberra: Australian Biological Resources Survey. Pp. i-xii, 1-665.
Yearsley, G.K., Last, P.R. & D.F. Hoese. 2006. Standared Names of Australian Fishes. CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research Paper 009. Pp. 65.

Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated: 23 July 2010

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