Scott & Jeanette Johnson, Kwajalein Unterwater
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Acanthosphex leurynnis (Jordan & Seale, 1905)
Acanthosphex leurynnis is a fish from the Aploactinidae family, known as velvetfish. Velvetfish live on the coasts of the tropical Indo-Pacific, with most species found in Indonesian and Australian waters. They are named after their transformed, tiny scales, which give the fish a velvety appearance. Some species are scaleless.
Acanthosphex leurynnis is the only species in its genus.
Acanthosphex leurynnis is a very small cryptic velvetfish, usually dark brown to light brown spotted, sometimes with whitish spots on the head and lower sides, often whitish pectoral and caudal fins with a brown outer wavy band. It has two spines behind the eye and four more behind the chin. The chin also has a pair of short tentacles. Due to its small size and camouflaged coloration, divers very rarely get to see this unique fish.
Acanthosphex leurynnis is said to live in gaps between rocks, on rocky and calcareous red algae-covered bottoms, sandy bottoms, and among algae.
Synonymised names:
Cocotropus dezwaani Weber & de Beaufort, 1915
Prosopodasys leurynnis Jordan & Seale, 1905
Acanthosphex leurynnis is a fish from the Aploactinidae family, known as velvetfish. Velvetfish live on the coasts of the tropical Indo-Pacific, with most species found in Indonesian and Australian waters. They are named after their transformed, tiny scales, which give the fish a velvety appearance. Some species are scaleless.
Acanthosphex leurynnis is the only species in its genus.
Acanthosphex leurynnis is a very small cryptic velvetfish, usually dark brown to light brown spotted, sometimes with whitish spots on the head and lower sides, often whitish pectoral and caudal fins with a brown outer wavy band. It has two spines behind the eye and four more behind the chin. The chin also has a pair of short tentacles. Due to its small size and camouflaged coloration, divers very rarely get to see this unique fish.
Acanthosphex leurynnis is said to live in gaps between rocks, on rocky and calcareous red algae-covered bottoms, sandy bottoms, and among algae.
Synonymised names:
Cocotropus dezwaani Weber & de Beaufort, 1915
Prosopodasys leurynnis Jordan & Seale, 1905
