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Blackbanded grubfish (Parapercis tetracantha) — Pinguipedidae

Blackbanded grubfish

Parapercis tetracantha
Family: Pinguipedidae

The Blackbanded grubfish (Parapercis tetracantha) is a saltwater fish of the family Pinguipedidae that grows up to 26 cm.

Length
26 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
12.0–25.0 m
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Solomon Is., Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Cocos Is. (Keel), Fiji, Hong Kong, India and others
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The Blackbanded grubfish is a sandperch or grubfish (Pinguipedidae) from coastal waters of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 26 cm and has an elongate, pale body with a flattened head and props itself on the bottom with its pectoral and pelvic fins. Broad black crossbars run over the flank. As a bottom-oriented ambush hunter it rests on sand and reef bottoms and snaps at small crustaceans, worms and small fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Blackbanded grubfish?

The Blackbanded grubfish has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Blackbanded grubfish live?

The Blackbanded grubfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Asia: Solomon Is., Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Cocos Is. (Keel), Fiji, Hong Kong, India and others

How big does the Blackbanded grubfish get?

The Blackbanded grubfish grows to a maximum of about 26 cm.

Is the Blackbanded grubfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Blackbanded grubfish 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 Blackbanded grubfish edible?

Yes, the Blackbanded grubfish is commonly eaten.

More photos

Blackbanded grubfish (Parapercis tetracantha) — Pinguipedidae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — Rickard Zerpe (CC BY 2.0)
Blackbanded grubfish (Parapercis tetracantha) — Pinguipedidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Mark Rosenstein, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Blackbanded grubfish (Parapercis tetracantha) — Pinguipedidae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — Rickard Zerpe (CC BY 2.0)
Blackbanded grubfish (Parapercis tetracantha) — Pinguipedidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Mark Rosenstein, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Blackbanded grubfish sourced
Scientific name
Parapercis tetracantha
Family
Pinguipedidae
Other names
Black-banded sandperch; Blackbarred sandperch; Reticulated sandperch; White-blotched grubfish; Black-banded grubfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
26.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
12.0 verified
Max depth (m)
25.0 verified
Natural range
Asia: Solomon Is., Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Cocos Is. (Keel), Fiji, Hong Kong, India and others sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Fishing with natural bait (fish, shrimp, worm) or lures close to reef and rock structures. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
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 Parapercis

More from the family Pinguipedidae

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