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Blue assessor (Assessor macneilli) — Plesiopidae

Blue assessor

Assessor macneilli
Family: Plesiopidae

The Blue assessor (Assessor macneilli) is a saltwater fish of the family Plesiopidae that grows up to 6 cm.

Length
6 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
2.0–20.0 m
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The blue assessor is a small hulafish (Plesiopidae) from reef water of the western Pacific, especially the Great Barrier Reef. The species grows to about 6 cm and has a deep blue-violet body with long dorsal and anal fins. Characteristically it often hovers upside-down beneath cave roofs and overhangs on the reef and snaps at small zooplankton. The male broods the eggs in his mouth. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Blue assessor?

The Blue assessor has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly blue.

Where does the Blue assessor live?

The Blue assessor lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Blue assessor get?

The Blue assessor grows to a maximum of about 6 cm.

Is the Blue assessor dangerous to humans?

No, the Blue assessor is harmless to humans.

Is the Blue assessor edible?

Yes, the Blue assessor is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Blauwe assessor sourced
English name
Blue assessor sourced
Scientific name
Assessor macneilli
Family
Plesiopidae
Other names
Blue devilfish; Blue scissortail; Macneill's assessor; Squatter verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
6.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Blue sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
2.0 verified
Max depth (m)
20.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
Yes inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Assessor

More from the family Plesiopidae

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