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Triplewart Seadevil
Cryptopsaras couesii Gill, 1883
Female Triplewart Seadevil (AMS I.43223-001). Image C. Bento © Australian Museum. View larger image.
Jaws of the Triplewart Seadevil. Lower jaw to the left. Image C. Bento © Australian Museum. View larger image.
In February 2004, New South Wales Fisheries Officer (and Australian Museum Research Associate) Ken Graham was given a Triplewart Seadevil by commercial fishers. The fish was trawled at a depth between the surface and 475 m, by S. Jubb on board the FV 'Shelley H', east of Montague Island, New South Wales.
The 30 cm standard length female fish has a long illicium protruding from the snout. Its jaws have rows of pointed teeth. On the female's back, in front of the dorsal fin, are three caruncles, which give the fish its common name.
A 55 mm standard length parasitic male was attached to the posterior region of the female's belly. The male was attached 'upside down'.
The specimen is now registered in the Australian Museum Fish Collection (AMS I.43223-001). Tissue samples were taken from both the male and female.
View a map of the collecting localities of specimens in the Australian Museum Fish Collection.
Related links
- For more information on this species view the species fact sheet
- For more information on trawl depths, visit capture depths of deepsea fishes
Further reading
- Anderson, M.E. & R.W. Leslie. 2001. Review of the deep-sea Anglerfishes (Lophiiformes: Ceratioidei) of Southern Africa. Ichthyological Bulletin. 70: 1-32.
- Bertelsen, E., & Pietsch, T.W. 1983. The Ceratioid Anglerfishes of Australia. Records of the Australian Museum. 35: 77-99.
- Brauer, A. 1906. Die Tiefsee-Fische. I. Systematischer Teil. In: C. Chun. Wissenschaftl. Ergebnisse der Deutschen Tiefsee-Expedition "Valdivia," 1898-99. Jena. v. 15: 1-432, Pls. 1-18.
- Stewart, A.L. & T.W. Pietsch. 1998. The ceratioid anglerfishes (Lophiiformes: Ceratioidei) of New Zealand. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 28 (1): 1-37.
