Asterorhombus cocosensis (Bleeker, 1855)
Description
Dorsal soft rays (total): 79 - 83; Anal soft rays: 59 - 64; Vertebrae: 35 - 36. This species is characterized by the following: body depth 51.5-58.3; sexual dimorphism in interorbital width, in specimens approximately 6.0 cm SL, males 4.1-7.9, females 3.2-5.0; first dorsal-fin ray isometric relative to SL, with distinct membranous structure confined to tip. Pectoral fin count at the ocular side 10-13, blind side 8-11. The membranous structure at the tip of the first dorsal fin resembles a small fish or crustacean (possibly a small hippolytid shrimp), authors called the ray the illicium and the structure at the tip as the esca (Ref. 57759).
Common Names
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Teleostei
Order: Pleuronectiformes
Family: Bothidae
Genus: Asterorhombus
Species: Asterorhombus cocosensis (Bleeker, 1855)
Climate Zone
Location
Biology
Found on pale sandy substrates in clearwater coastal bays to outer reef lagoons and sandy gutters on reef flats. Often crawls over low stony reef (Ref. 48637). The membranous structure at the tip of the first dorsal fin resembles a small fish or crustacean (possibly a small hippolytid shrimp), authors called the ray the illicium and the structure at the tip as the esca. The illicium waves the esca back and forth near mouth to attract prey. Shows sexual dimorphism in width of the interorbital origin, wider in males than females. Most frequently collected by divers.
Habitat
demersal