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Black fin javelinfish (Hapalogenys nigripinnis) — Hapalogenyidae

Black fin javelinfish

Hapalogenys nigripinnis
LC · Least Concern

The Black fin javelinfish (Hapalogenys nigripinnis) is a brackish-water fish of the family Hapalogenyidae that grows up to 40 cm.

Length
40 cm
Water
Brackish
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Northwest Pacific
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The black-finned javelinfish is a near-bottom fish from the northwest Pacific, off China, Korea and Japan. The species grows to about 40 cm and has a deep, dark body with strong fin spines and dark fins. As a nocturnal fish it lives over rocky and soft bottoms of shallow coastal water and hunts small crustaceans, molluscs and fish. It is a valued food fish. The IUCN assesses the species as Least Concern (LC).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Black fin javelinfish?

The Black fin javelinfish has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly black and shows a plain pattern. Deep dark body with strong fin spines; nocturnal bottom fish

Where does the Black fin javelinfish live?

The Black fin javelinfish lives in brackish water and is mostly found around mixed bottom. Northwest Pacific

How big does the Black fin javelinfish get?

The Black fin javelinfish grows to a maximum of about 40 cm.

Is the Black fin javelinfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Black fin javelinfish 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 Black fin javelinfish edible?

Yes, the Black fin javelinfish is commonly eaten.

More photos

Black fin javelinfish (Hapalogenys nigripinnis) — Hapalogenyidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) fhvc, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Black fin javelinfish (Hapalogenys nigripinnis) — Hapalogenyidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) JIN Pin-Tsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Black fin javelinfish verified
Scientific name
Hapalogenys nigripinnis
Family
Hapalogenyidae
Other names
Black grunt; Grunt; Short barbeled grunter; Short barbeled velvetchin; Skewband grunt verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
40.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Black sourced
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thick / fleshy sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Natural range
Northwest Pacific verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small crustaceans, molluscs and small fishes inferred
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Nocturnal coastal bottom fish; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Deep dark body with strong fin spines; nocturnal bottom fish sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Handlines sourced
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
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. verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Hapalogenys

More from the family Hapalogenyidae

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