| Triplewart seadevil | |
|---|---|
| Triplewart seadevil with parasitic male attached (arrow) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Lophiiformes |
| Family: | Ceratiidae |
| Genus: | Cryptopsaras |
| Species: | C. couesii |
| Binomial name | |
| Cryptopsaras couesii Gill, 1883 |
|
The triplewart seadevil, Cryptopsaras couesii, is a seadevil of the family Ceratiidae, found in all oceans, from the surface to 2,000 m. Its length is approximately 30 cm for females and 3 cm for males. They belong to the anglerfish family.
The species displays extreme sexual dimorphism. Females are more typical in appearance to other anglerfish, whereas the males are tiny rudimentary creatures with stunted digestive systems. A male must find a female and attach to her near the vent; he then lives on her parasitically, becoming little more than a sperm-producing appendage.
Data related to Cryptopsaras couesii at Wikispecies Media related to [//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Cryptopsaras_couesii Cryptopsaras couesii] at Wikimedia Commons