Fin's Fish Guide
The Bandfish (Acanthocepola abbreviata) is a saltwater fish of the family Cepolidae that grows up to 30 cm.
Description
The bandfish is a strongly elongate, ribbon-shaped fish from the Indo-West Pacific, ranging from the Persian Gulf to Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and northern Australia. It grows to about 30 cm and has an orange-pink body marked with a double row of yellow spots; the long dorsal fin has about eighty soft rays and no spines. The fish lives on muddy bottoms between 10 and 80 metres depth, where it occupies self-dug burrows. When plankton drifts past it rises in schools above the bottom to feed. The species is harmless to humans and is assessed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.
Frequently asked questions
How do you recognise the Bandfish?
The Bandfish has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly red-orange and shows a spots pattern. Ribbon-shaped body; lives in self-dug burrows and forages in shoals above the bottom
Where does the Bandfish live?
The Bandfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around mixed bottom. Indo-West Pacific
How big does the Bandfish get?
The Bandfish grows to a maximum of about 30 cm.
Is the Bandfish dangerous to humans?
No, the Bandfish is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.
Is the Bandfish edible?
The Bandfish is rarely eaten.
More photos
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All data
Identification
Appearance
Habitat & distribution
Behaviour & biology
For anglers
Safety
Status & sources
Same genus Acanthocepola
More from the family Cepolidae
Want the complete picture on the Bandfish?
Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Bandfish is one of 12,519 species in the app.