Pencil Coffinfish

This species is characterized by the following: D III,11-12 (modally 12); A 6-7 (7); pectoral-fin rays 11-13; presence of a black and very deep illicial trough; extremely short illicium and esca with numerous stout black (anterior face) and white (posterior face) cirri; gill rakers: GRi = 13-14 (3-4+9-10); GRii = 8-10; GRiii = 8-11; GRiv = 7-8; lateral-line counts: AB = 10-12 (mainly 11); BB' = 4-5 (5); BD = 2-3 (2); CD = 6-7; EF = 3-5 (4); FG = 3-4 (3); GH = 10-13 (11-12); BI = 35-40 (36-38) (Ref. 93086).

Dorsal spines (total): 3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 12; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 6 - 7

A benthic species (Ref. 75154) found on the continental slopes (Ref. 7300, 75154).

fisheries: of no interest

廣泛分布於印度-西太平洋區海域。臺灣記錄於東北部及南部。

肉質佳，可食用，但不具漁業經濟規模。

身體短且胖，頭部與身體形成一箱型體盤。頭部隆起，腹部扁平。具三背鰭棘，第一背鰭棘特化為吻觸手，吻觸手相當短。吻觸手凹槽深。第二及第三背鰭棘隱於皮下，需經解剖方可見。胸鰭位於身體中央下方，腹鰭腹位，位於體盤下方。鰓孔開口圓形，位於胸鰭基部。尾鰭截形。體色底色為成紅色，具有許多不規則黃色條紋或斑塊，小型個體背部偶具有數個大型灰黑色斑塊。吻觸手凹槽表面全黑。餌球前半部細絲為亮白色，後半部黑色。過去日本所紀錄之/Chaunax tosaensis/為本種之次同物異名(Caruso, 1999)。(何宣慶 2012/12)

屬深海底棲性物種，通常棲息在泥砂地區。肉食性，利用吻觸手及餌球引誘獵物，並瞬間張開口部，產生負壓，將獵物吸入。母魚通常產下筏狀卵塊，內具有相當多的卵粒。

On continental slopes.