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Arrow blenny (Lucayablennius zingaro) — Chaenopsidae

Arrow blenny

Lucayablennius zingaro
Family: Chaenopsidae
LC · Least Concern

The Arrow blenny (Lucayablennius zingaro) is a saltwater fish of the family Chaenopsidae that grows up to 5 cm.

Length
5 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
13.0–106.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Caribbean; coral reefs.
Edibility
Not eaten

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Description

The arrow blenny is a small blenny-like fish of the family Chaenopsidae from the Caribbean. The species is slender and arrow-shaped and inhabits coral reefs. Striking is its hunting technique: it hovers with the tail bent in an S-curve and then shoots forward like an arrow to seize small fishes. When threatened it retreats into holes or empty worm tubes. It ignores divers. It is often seen near schools of small bass on which it preys. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Arrow blenny?

The Arrow blenny has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern. Hovers with an S-shaped curved tail and shoots like an arrow at small fishes.

Where does the Arrow blenny live?

The Arrow blenny lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Caribbean; coral reefs.

How big does the Arrow blenny get?

The Arrow blenny grows to a maximum of about 5 cm.

Is the Arrow blenny dangerous to humans?

No, the Arrow blenny is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Arrow blenny edible?

The Arrow blenny is not usually eaten.

More photos

Arrow blenny (Lucayablennius zingaro) — Chaenopsidae — 2
Williams, Jeffrey T. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Arrow blenny (Lucayablennius zingaro) — Chaenopsidae — 3
Florida Museum of Natural History Ichthyology (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — UF
Arrow blenny (Lucayablennius zingaro) — Chaenopsidae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — q phia (CC BY 2.0)
Arrow blenny (Lucayablennius zingaro) — Chaenopsidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) terence zahner, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
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All data

Identification

English name
Arrow blenny verified
Scientific name
Lucayablennius zingaro
Family
Chaenopsidae
Other names
Arrow Blenny; Arrow blenny verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
5.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Superior (upward) inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
13.0 verified
Max depth (m)
106.0 verified
Natural range
Caribbean; coral reefs. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small fishes sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
Yes inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred
Special features
Hovers with an S-shaped curved tail and shoots like an arrow at small fishes. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Not a target species for angling; at most an incidental catch or usable as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

More from the family Chaenopsidae

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