Western Australian Sculpin
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Scorpaeniformes
Family: Psychrolutidae
Genus: Psychrolutes
Species:
P. occidentalis
Binomial name
Psychrolutes occidentalis

Psychrolutes occidentalis, also known as the Western Australian sculpin or western blobfish, is a species of deep-sea fish of the family Psychrolutidae. It is a bathydemersal fish found along the continental slope to the west of Australia.[2][3]

Distribution

Individuals have only been discovered in the Eastern Indian Ocean, around the Rowley Shoals off of northwestern Australia and well as Tasmania. They live in depths ranging from 350–700 meters deep. The discovery of psychrolutes occidentalis in this location was unusual as psychrolutes are not typically found in tropical waters.[2] [1]

Biology

The species is found on the continental slope, and is a demersal fish, living near the bottom of the ocean. It grows to 11 cm (4.3 in) standard length.[2]

The species has a soft reddish/brown body and head, with thin, loose skin covering all fins.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Fricke, Ronald (1990). "A new species of psychrolutid fish from western Australia". Japanese Journal of Ichthyology. 36 (4): 404–409. doi:10.1007/BF02905459. S2CID 89490400.
  2. 1 2 3 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2019). "Psychrolutes occidentalis" in FishBase. February 2019 version.
  3. ↑ "Psychrolutes occidentalis". fishesofaustralia.net.au. Museums Victoria. Retrieved 26 May 2019.


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