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Illicial length 48% SL; diameter of esca 7% SL; anterior escal appendage bifurcated distally, with three short basal branches on anterior margin and one somewhat longer branch on posterior margin; each primary branch of distal escal appendage with a pair of minute side branches; three pairs of illicial appendages emerging from posterolateral margin of base of escal bulb, distal-most pair (36% SL) bifurcated, second (28% SL) and third (7% SL) pair simple; escal appendages darkly pigmented, except for extreme distal tips and third (most proximal) pair of illicial appendages; distal part of stem of illicial, escal bulb, anterior and posterior escal appendages, as well as first and second pairs of illicial appendages covered with small close-set dermal spinules; papillae of snout and chin low and indistinct; 1 or 2 large dermal spines present on lobes of pectoral fins, 5–7 spines on each side of body; pigmentation of somewhat bleached specimen uniformly brown on head and body, fins transparent with remains of pigment on tips of fin rays; dorsal-fin rays 5; anal-fin rays 4; pectoral-fin rays 16 or 17.
The only known female of H. danae differs from those of similar length of other species of the H. groenlandicus-group in having the following combination of character states: anterior escal appendage 29% SL; distal escal appendage 2.5% SL; distal escal lobes pointed, anterior pair prolonged into filaments 5.5% SL in length; posterior escal appendage 30% SL, undivided proximally, bifurcated distally; three pairs of posterolateral appendages on or near base of escal bulb, distal-most and longest pair 36% SL, bifurcated distally.
The only know specimens was captured in central part of the South China Sea.
Pietsch TW. 2009. Oceanic Anglerfishes: Extraordinary Diversity in the Deep Sea. Berkley: University of California Press. 638 p.
Females of the H. groenlandicus-group differ from those of other species of the genus in having the following combination of character states: The light-guiding distal escal appendage is divided at the base, its total length 0.4–2% SL, shorter than the diameter of the escal bulb in specimens less than 110 mm, 1–11% SL in larger specimens. Each primary branch of the distal escal appendage has a simple or bifurcated tip and 0–2 tiny papilliform side branches. The base of the distal appendage is surrounded by four escal lobes of about equal size. An anterior escal appendage is present in most species (but rudimentary or absent in H. paucifilosus), its length 1.5–42% SL. The posterior escal appendage is longer (about 1.5–34% SL) than the distal escal appendage; its proximal part is undivided, with a simple bifurcated tip, or it is trifurcated (but never bifurcated) at its base (in some specimens it is represented by a transverse series of 2–3 separate, simple filaments). Two to 23 posterolateral appendages are present on and below the base of the escal bulb, the distal-most pair measuring 5.9–49% SL, longer than the posterior escal appendage, and emerging just below the base of the bulb. Small dermal spinules are present on the stem of the illicium, the escal bulb, and the escal appendages of specimens greater than 33 mm. The dermal papillae of the snout and chin are low and rather indistinct. The skin is devoid of “white patches.” The caudal-fin rays are white or only faintly pigmented, with dark tips in specimens less than 70–100 mm, but covered with dark pigment in larger specimens.
Known from a single metamorphosed female, 39 mm SL.
DANA station 3714(1), South China Sea, 15°22'N, 115°20'E, 1000 m wire, 0245 hr, 20 May 1929.
Holotype of Himantolophus danae: ZMUC P9262, 39 mm SL.
Himantolophus danae is a species of footballfish, a type of anglerfish. The fish is bathypelagic and has been found at a depth of 350 metres (1,150 ft). It is endemic to the west central Pacific Ocean.[1]
Himantolophus danae is a species of footballfish, a type of anglerfish. The fish is bathypelagic and has been found at a depth of 350 metres (1,150 ft). It is endemic to the west central Pacific Ocean.
