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Sphenotic and preopercular spines well developed; symphysial spine of lower jaw short; frontals with a rounded dorsally directed projection; upper jaw with 22 or 23 teeth on each side, arranged in four overlapping series (2 + 5 + 8 + 8 and 2 + 6 + 7 + 7), the longest tooth (P II 4: fourth tooth of second series) 5.5 mm; lower jaw with 15–17 teeth on each side, arranged in three overlapping series (3 + 7 + 7 and 3 + 6 + 6), the longest tooth (D 13: third tooth of first series) 8.0 mm; three close-set teeth on vomer (1.2, 1.7, and 3.0 mm long); second pharyngobranchials with 4 and 5 teeth, third pharyngobranchials each with 6 teeth; dorsal-fin rays 3; anal-fin rays 3; pectoral-fin rays 14 or 15.
Skin of head and body brownish black; esca and barbel unpigmented except at base; fins unpigmented, except for pigment spot near tip of each pectoral fin-ray; subdermal pigmentation of caudal peduncle consisting of an irregular series of large melanophores below midline, extending two myomers beyond base of anal fin; scattered smaller melanophores along dorsal and ventral side of caudal peduncle and anteriorly on base of dorsal fin.
Metamorphosed females of Linophryne parini differ from those of all other species of the genus in details of escal and barbel morphology: escal bulb globular, with a short, truncated, distal prolongation without appendages, and a pair of posterolateral appendages, each consisting of a tapering stem about equal in length to diameter of escal bulb, each bearing a distal cluster of short, highly branched filaments. Barbel divided near base into a median and two lateral primary branches, each with about seven secondary branches, each in turn with varying numbers of filamentous tertiary branches and bearing a single distal photophore; lateral primary branches about 44% SL, forming a symmetrical pair with secondary branches of decreasing length, spaced along their length; median primary branch somewhat shorter, with secondary side-branches of various length forming a close-set group; a single, short filamentous anterior branch, proximal to bases of primary branches. Caudal peduncle with a ventrolateral series of large subdermal melanophores.
Known only from a single specimen collected off the east coast of South Africa with a bottom trawl at 1200–1220 m.
Pietsch TW. 2009. Oceanic Anglerfishes: Extraordinary Diversity in the Deep Sea. Berkley: University of California Press. 638 p.
Parasitized females have a single attached male, in contrast to the linophrynid genera Haplophryne and Borophryne (and the ceratiid genera Ceratias and Cryptopsaras) in which females with two or more males are known. In all known cases parasitized females of the family, the male is directed forward with respect to the female and attached in nearly the same position on the ventral midline of the female, somewhat in front of and below the sinistral anus; with only one or two exceptions, all are attached upside down with respect to the female. This is again in contrast to the linophrynid genera Haplophryne and Photocorynus (and the ceratiid genus Cryptopsaras) in which males may attach in any direction and almost anywhere on the head and body of the female. In all known examples, the males are attached by both upper and lower jaws, leaving prominent openings on each side that lead into their mouths and opercular cavities; there is no papilla of tissue projecting from the female into the mouth of the male.
Know from a single specimen, 64 mm SL.
FIOLENT cruise 3, station 126, 33°41'S, 27°26'E, bottom trawl, 1200–1220 m.
Holotype of Linophryne parini: SIOM uncataloged, 64 mm
