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Triplewart Seadevil
Cryptopsaras couesii Gill, 1883
A 5 cm standard length (glossary) Triplewart Seadevil trawled during the NORFANZ expedition at a depth between the surface and 1200m south-west of Norfolk Island, May 2003 (NMV A25114-04). Photo: R. McPhee © NORFANZ. View larger image.
The Triplewart Seadevil has a large head and a tiny eye. The skin has needle-like spinules. It has a small pectoral fin and three club-like caruncles on its back in front of the dorsal fin. The illicium) terminates in a small small rounded esca.
Females grow to 44 cm in length. Males are much smaller than females, only growing to 12 cm. Sexually mature males are usually found attached as parasites to females.
The Triplewart Seadevil occurs in marine waters of the three major oceans in tropical to subpolar latitudes. It is usually found in mesopelagic depths, but has been recorded from the surface down to around 4000 m.
In Australia, specimens have been collected from off New South Wales, Tasmania and Western Australia.
View a map of the collecting localities of specimens in the Australian Museum Fish Collection.
Related links
- Capture depths of deepsea fishes
- View specimen trawled off Bermagui.
- View the Deepsea fishes list
Further reading
- Anderson, M.E. & R.W. Leslie. 2001. Review of the deep-sea Anglerfishes (Lophiiformes: Ceratioidei) of Southern Africa. Ichthyological Bulletin. 70: 1-32.
- Bertelsen, E., & Pietsch, T.W. 1983. The Ceratioid Anglerfishes of Australia. Records of the Australian Museum. 35: 77-99.
- Brauer, A. 1906. Die Tiefsee-Fische. I. Systematischer Teil. In: C. Chun. Wissenschaftl. Ergebnisse der Deutschen Tiefsee-Expedition "Valdivia," 1898-99. Jena. v. 15: 1-432, Pls. 1-18.
- Stewart, A.L. & T.W. Pietsch. 1998. The ceratioid anglerfishes (Lophiiformes: Ceratioidei) of New Zealand. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 28 (1): 1-37.
