Latin name

Pogonophryne immaculata

Other name

Pogonophryne immaculata

Identification

It belongs to the species group "P. albipinna". It differs from other species of the group by the following set of characters The chin antenna is very short (2-9% of the standard fish length), without terminal extension, blunt at the tip, covered with small papillae. When folded back over the snout (with the mouth closed) it barely reaches the posterior margin of the upper lip. The lower jaw protrudes slightly forward. There are 19-28 pores (tubular bony segments or scales) on the dorsal (upper) lateral line and 12-29 pores on the medial (middle) lateral line. In the lower part of the first gill arch the stamens are arranged in 2 rows, the total number of stamens on the lower and upper part of the arch is 12-16, of which (1-2)+(0-1)+(5-8)=7-9 stamens in the outer row and (0-1)+(0-1)+(4-6)=5-8 in the inner row. The stamens of the inner row of the lower part of the stigma are covered with small bony denticles. The total number of vertebrae is 37-38, including 15-16 trunk vertebrae and 21-23 caudal vertebrae.

Features of fish fins

The dorsal fin of males is high (about 23-27% of standard length) with a prominent anterior lobe. The first dorsal fin has 2 short, soft, barbed rays; the second dorsal fin has 27-28 rays; the anal fin has 17-19 rays; the pectoral fin has 19-20 rays.

Fish colouring

The colouration of the entire body is monochromatic greyish-brownish or brownish with a pinkish tinge, without dark spots. The chin antenna is monochromatic - greyish or whitish. The anterior part of the fin is black, the posterior part is black below and white above, along the outer edge of the fin. Anal fin with a black base and a broad (about half the height of the fin) whitish band along the lower edge. Pectoral and caudal fins mostly black, whitening towards the end. 

Distribution

The distribution is circumpolar-Antarctic. It is endemic to the bathyal waters of the high latitude zone of the Southern Ocean. The species is currently known from nine individuals caught off the South Orkney Islands and in the Ross Sea. 

Habitat

Deep-water marine polar species, ranging from 800 to 2542 m. To date, it is the deepest species of Pogonophryne based on depth of capture.

Size

It probably belongs to the medium-sized group of species of the genus Pogonophryne: the largest female reached 268 mm total length and 209 mm standard length, the male 252 mm total length and 198 mm standard length.

Behavior

Spotless plunderfish are sedentary bottom dwellers.

Food and feeding habits

Predators that feed on both living organisms and carrion. Eight of the nine known specimens were caught on hooks baited with fish and pieces (4×3×2 cm) of Dosidicus gigas.

Reproduction

There are no data on the breeding biology of this species.

Fishing

Spotless plunderfish are occasionally caught as by-catch in the Antarctic toothfish bottom longline fishery in the Ross Sea.

Relationship with a person

Harmless.