Coves' Horned Anglerfish

A large median and two small lateral oval caruncles immediately in front of origin of dorsal fin (Ref. 13608). Branchiostegal rays: 6 (Ref. 36494).Description: Characterized by having 8 caudal fin rays and conspicuous spine on anterodorsal margin of the subopercle. Distinguishing characteristics of metamorphosed female: tiny illicium, reduced to a small remnant; dorsal midline of the trunk with 2 club-shaped caruncles just anterior to soft dorsal-fin origin. Metamorphosed males: longer anterior pair of lower denticular teeth compared to posterior pair; larvae, males and juvenile females have subdermal pigment on gill cover, dorsal surface of trunk and caudal peduncle (Ref. 86949).

Females are oviparous, males are parasitic (Ref. 36494).

Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 4 - 5; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 4; Vertebrae: 20

Males dwarfed, becoming parasitic on females.

Males dwarfed, becoming parasitic on females. Maximum size of free-living males is 1.05 cm (Ref. 4494). Females are oviparous, with planktonic larvae (Ref. 36494). Eggs are presumably contained in floating gelatinous rafts (Ref. 36494 ).

fisheries: of no interest