Home · Cepolidae · Blackspot bandfish
Blackspot bandfish (Acanthocepola limbata) — Cepolidae

Blackspot bandfish

Acanthocepola limbata
Family: Cepolidae

The Blackspot bandfish (Acanthocepola limbata) is a saltwater fish of the family Cepolidae that grows up to 50 cm.

Length
50 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
80.0–100.0 m
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Australia, China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia and others
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Want the complete picture on the Blackspot bandfish?

Get the app

Description

The blackspot bandfish is a bandfish (Cepolidae) from coastal waters of the Indo-West Pacific. The species has a strongly elongate, ribbon-like, red-pink body with long, continuous dorsal and anal fins and a black spot in the dorsal fin. As a bottom-dweller it lives in a vertical burrow in soft sand and mud bottoms, projecting its forebody to snap passing zooplankton. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Blackspot bandfish?

The Blackspot bandfish has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly red-orange.

Where does the Blackspot bandfish live?

The Blackspot bandfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Asia: Australia, China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia and others

How big does the Blackspot bandfish get?

The Blackspot bandfish grows to a maximum of about 50 cm.

Is the Blackspot bandfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Blackspot 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 Blackspot bandfish edible?

Yes, the Blackspot bandfish is commonly eaten.

More photos

Blackspot bandfish (Acanthocepola limbata) — Cepolidae — 2
Florida Museum of Natural History Ichthyology (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — UF
Blackspot bandfish (Acanthocepola limbata) — Cepolidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) LivingSeas Hong Kong, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Blackspot bandfish (Acanthocepola limbata) — Cepolidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Josy Lai, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Blackspot bandfish (Acanthocepola limbata) — Cepolidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Josy Lai, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Blackspot bandfish?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Blackspot bandfish is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Blackspot bandfish sourced
Scientific name
Acanthocepola limbata
Family
Cepolidae
Other names
Blackspot bandfish; Black-spot bandfish; Bandfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
50.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Red / orange sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
80.0 verified
Max depth (m)
100.0 verified
Natural range
Asia: Australia, China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia 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
Bottom fishing with natural bait (worm, shrimp or fish) on or just above the seabed. 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 Acanthocepola

More from the family Cepolidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Blackspot bandfish?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Blackspot bandfish is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Blackspot bandfish? Get the app