{{Short description|Species of fish}} {{Speciesbox | parent_authority = Fowler, 1938 | taxon = Brachybembras aschemeieri | authority = Fowler, 1938 }}
'''''Brachybembras''''' is monotypic genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Bembridae, the deepwater flatheads. Its only species, '''''Brachybembras aschemeieri''''', is known only from the Pacific Ocean around the Philippines where it is found at a depth of around {{convert|582|m|ft}}.
==Taxonomy== ''Brachybembras'' was first described as a genus in 1938 by the American zoologist Henry Weed Fowler<ref name = CofF>{{Cof family|family=Bembridae|access-date=1 July 2022}}</ref> when he described its only species ''B. aschemieri''. The type locality of ''B. aschemieri'' was given as off Jolo Light, near Jolo in the Philippines.<ref name = CofF2>{{Cof genus|genus=Brachybembras|access-date=1 July 2022}}</ref>
==Etymology== The genus name combines ''brachy'', "short", with ''Bembras'' as this taxon has a shorter snout than ''Bembras''. The specific name honours Charles R. W. Aschemeier (1892-1973), a taxidermist at the U.S. National Museum of Natural History.<ref name = ETYFish>{{cite web | url = http://www.etyfish.org/perciformes11/ | title = Order PERCIFORMES: Suborder PLATYCEPHALOIDEI: Families BEMBRIDAE, PARABEMBRIDAE, PLATYCEPHALIDAE, HOPLICHTHYIDAE and PLECTROGENIIDAE | access-date= 19 March 2022 | author1 = Christopher Scharpf | author2 = Kenneth J. Lazara | name-list-style = amp | work = The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database | publisher = Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara | date = 22 September 2018}}</ref>
==Characteristics== ''Brachybembras'' has no spines in the anal fin, a terminal lower jaw which does not protrude beyond the upper jaw and having the maxillae being relatively wide to its rear. There are 8 spines in the first dorsal fin and 12 soft rays in the second. The lateral line has 32 scales. The pectoral fins each have 21 fin rays.
There is a strong suborbital ridge created by the second and third infraorbital bones and this bears 5 spines.<ref name="FAO">{{cite book | editor1 =Carpenter, K.E. | editor2 = Niem, V.H. | title = FAO species identification guide for fishery purposes. The living marine resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 4. Bony fishes part 2 (Mugilidae to Carangidae) | publisher = FAO, Rome | year = 1999 | chapter = Bembridae Deepwater flatheads | author = S. G. Poss | pages = 2383–2384 | isbn = 9251043019}}</ref> There are 11 spines in the anal fin and the eyes are large, being a third of the size of the head.
The colour is described as being pale brown, paler on the head with a whitish snout. The fins are greyish withwhite rays.<ref name="Fowler1938">{{cite journal | author = Fowler, H. W. | year = 1938 | title = Descriptions of new fishes obtained by the United States Bureau of Fisheries steamer "Albatross", chiefly in Philippine seas and adjacent waters | journal = Proceedings of the United States National Museum | volume = 85 | issue = 3032 | pages = 31–135 | doi = 10.5479/si.00963801.85-3032.31 | url = https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/7721586#page/108/mode/1up}}</ref>
==Distribution and habitat== ''Brachybembras'' is found in the tropical western Pacific Ocean where it has been recorded from the Philippines.<ref name = CofF/> It is a benthopelagic species which has been recorded at depths down to {{cvt|582|m}}.<ref name = Fishbase>{{FishBase|Brachybembras|aschemeieri|month=February|year=2022}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from1=Q1993344|from2=Q1592310}}
Category:Bembridae Category:Monotypic Actinopterygii genera Category:Fish of the Philippines Category:Taxa named by Henry Weed Fowler Category:Fish described in 1938 Category:Monotypic marine fish genera