Mossback
Paraploactis trachyderma
- Usual depth30 m
- Water temperature23–27 °C
- Best monthsApril, June, and August
- How commonRare
Where and when
Where it has been recorded
Worldwide
Loading the map
Best months
Worldwide (open data)
- January: 1 records
- February: 1 records
- March: 1 records
- April: 3 records
- May: 1 records
- June: 3 records
- July: 2 records
- August: 3 records
- September: 3 records
- October: 3 records
- November: 1 records
- December: 3 records
Depth and water temperature
Depth
Mostly recorded at 30 m · Deepest record: 30 m
Water temperature
Recorded in surface water of 23–27 °C
Names and classification
- English
- Mossback, Mossback Velvetfish, northern mossback
Other scientific names: Aploactis lichen, Erosa australiensis
Similar species
Bearded VelvetfishParaploactis intonsa
- Phantom Velvetfish
Paraploactis kagoshimensis
- Pillow Velvetfish
Paraploactis pulvinus
Little VelvetfishAploactisoma milesii
- Dwarf Velvetfish
Acanthosphex leurynnis
- sandpaper fish
Adventor elongatus
Sources and credits
Names and taxonomy: WoRMS (CC BY 4.0) and the GBIF Backbone (CC BY 4.0). Photos: iNaturalist observers, each under the licence shown (CC0, CC BY or CC BY-SA).
- Depth, temperature, months and maps: records from OBIS and GBIF under CC0 or CC BY.
- Conservation status as published by GBIF (IUCN Red List).
- 30 open-data records from 1950 to 1997.
- Species data updated November 5, 2026.
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