| Acantholiparis caecus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Suborder: | Cottoidei |
| Family: | Liparidae |
| Genus: | Acantholiparis |
| Species: | A. caecus |
| Binomial name | |
| Acantholiparis caecus Grinols, 1969 | |
Acantholiparis caecus is one of the twosnailfishes within the genusAcantholiparis, along withA. opercularis, the spiny snailfish. Its generic name comes from the Greek for thorny (akantha) and fat (liparis); its specific name comes from the Latin word for blind.[citation needed]
Acantholiparis caecus grows to a maximum length of 5.7 cm, which is slightly less than what is known of its closest relative, the spiny snailfish.[1] Females are larger than males, whose maximum size is 3.9 cm.[1][2]
Acantholiparis caecus is known from depths stretching from 1,300m to 2,122m, in the bathyal ormidnight zone of the ocean.[2] Unlike thespiny snailfish, it ispelagic, living above the ocean floor rather than upon it as thedemersal spiny snailfish does.[2]
Acantholiparis caecus is a more southern fish thanA. opercularis, inhabiting an area off the coast ofOregon and northernCalifornia. Possibly the range extends as far north as British Columbia but this is unconfirmed.[1]