Heminodus philippinus Smith, 1917
Description
Dorsal spines (total): 6 - 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 18 - 21; Anal soft rays: 18 - 19. This species is characterized by the following: fusiform body covered with bony plates with head large and depressed; broad snout, with short, triangular rostral projection on each side, nearly parallel to each other; interorbital region concave and with no distinct ridges; head with supraocular, parietal, posttemporal, opercular, and preopercular spines; large and inferior mouth with posterior tip of upper jaw reaching point below anterior border of orbit; upper jaw with villiform teeth; no teeth on lower jaw, vomer and palatine; 1-2 short barbels on lip, none on chin; body plates arranged in 4 rows, each plate with single, posteriorly directed spine; plates in upper lateral row lack anteriorly directed spine; anterior 4 (or 5) plates small; lower lateral row of bony plates ending at caudal peduncle and separated from the other side; 4 (or 5) plates along ventral region anterior to anus, with the most anterior largest; dorsal fin origin between first and second bony plates in dorsal row, ending on anterior part of caudal peduncle; anal fin origin just posterior to anus, also terminating on anterior part of caudal peduncle; pectoral fin reaching posteriorly to near anus length; 2 ventralmost pectoral fin rays detached, large and thickened; pelvic fin reach posteriorly to point between origin of dorsal and anus fins; when fresh, colour of head and dorsal part of body pale red, ventral part of body whitish; dorsal part with yellowish-green spots; fins mostly whitish; 2 dusky bands on pectoral fin (Ref. 93670).
Common Names
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Teleostei
Order: Perciformes/Scorpaenoidei
Family: Peristediidae
Genus: Heminodus
Species: Heminodus philippinus Smith, 1917
Climate Zone
Location
Biology
Deep benthic species of limited commercial value inhabiting warm tropical seas along continental shelf edge and slope. Bony scutes reduce commercial value (Ref. 9771).
Habitat
bathydemersal