Animalia Life
Centrodraco insolitus
FAMILY
Draconettidae
TAXONOMY
Centrodraco insolitus McKay, 1971, off northwest Australia
(17°17_ S, 119°51_ E, at a depth of 1,148 ft [350 m]).
OTHER COMMON NAMES
None known.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Total length about 5.1 (13 cm). Small, elongate, rounded body
lacking scales. Lateral line grooved. Large eye and pointed
snout. Two dorsal fins with three dorsal spines present on the
first; the first dorsal spine is the longest. Both operculum and
preoperculum have a single strong spine. Last dorsal and anal
rays are branched, others are simple. Pectoral fin large and
rounded. Pelvic fin elongate. Body pink with yellow blotches,
and dark spots near pectoral fin and caudal peduncle.
DISTRIBUTION
Eastern Indian Ocean off coast of northwest Australia.
HABITAT
Deep-bottom rubble and sand to 1,040–1,148 ft (317–350 m)
deep.
BEHAVIOR
Nothing known.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Likely feeds upon small benthic invertebrates.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Nothing known, but likely a pelagic spawning fish with paired
courtship. Sexually dimorphic; males larger than females.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not listed by the IUCN. May be vulnerable to damage caused
by deep trawling of habitats.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
No direct significance. May be taken incidentally in deeptrawling
fisheries.