Madagascar Numbfish

This species is distinguished from all its congeners by the following characters: unique presence of a very large and prominent first dorsal fin that is conspicuously taller, larger and with a longer base than the second dorsal fin; large spiracles, conspicuously rounded, not projecting anteriorly lateral to eyes, and with elevated rims all around; interspiracular distance much smaller than interorbital distance; small, broadly rounded lateral cusplets adjacent to principal cusp on teeth of more concealed inner rows; upper and lower tooth bands equal in width and broadly circular in outline; dorsal colouration composed of a yellowish brown background with darker brown to reddish brown irregular blotches on disc margins, posterior disc and anterior margin of snout; darker brown blotches on anterior portion of dorsal and caudal fins, at caudal apex, and laterally on tail at level of dorsal fins; precaudal vertebrae 68-71; total vertebrae 119-127 (Ref. 93929).

Vertebrae: 119 - 127

Usually found over predominantly muddy substrata (Ref. 93929). Maturity size of males at ca. 27 cm TL; birth size at ca. 14 cm TL (Ref. 114953).