PHALLOSTETHIDAE


Neostethus bicornis, FRLM 30679, 2.5 cm SL

Neostethus bicornis Regan, 1916

D I - 5 - 6; A 15 - 16; P1 10 - 11; LR 31 - 34. Body slender and compressed; in adult male, two elongate ctenactinia (= curved, rod-like external priapial bones under throat), shorter one of which at least one-half of the other (longer) one in length; in female, small hood-like flap covering urogenital opening under throat. Head without translucent membranous dome on dorsal surface. Color: semitransparent, rapidly turns to pale after death. Size: 3 cm. Distribution: Andaman Sea and Western Pacific. Remarks: found in quiet waters around aquatic plants in mangroves. Surface swimming, schooling fish, feeds on copepods, and mollusk and crustacean larvae. Oviparous.