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Spotted worm goby (Cerdale ionthas) — Microdesmidae

Spotted worm goby

Cerdale ionthas
Family: Microdesmidae
DD · Data Deficient

The Spotted worm goby (Cerdale ionthas) is a saltwater fish of the family Microdesmidae that grows up to 8 cm.

Length
7.5 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–1.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The speckled wormfish is a small wormfish of the family Microdesmidae from the eastern Pacific. The species has a very elongate, eel-like body with a continuous dorsal and anal fin and a fine, speckled pattern. It inhabits shallow rocky coasts, including tide pools, where it shelters among stones and in burrows and quickly darts away when threatened. It feeds on zooplankton and small benthic crustaceans that it picks from the water. Owing to scarce data the species is regarded as data deficient. It is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Spotted worm goby?

The Spotted worm goby has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Spotted worm goby live?

The Spotted worm goby lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Spotted worm goby get?

The Spotted worm goby grows to a maximum of about 8 cm.

Is the Spotted worm goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Spotted worm goby is harmless to humans.

Is the Spotted worm goby edible?

The Spotted worm goby is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Sproetwormvis sourced
English name
Spotted worm goby verified
Scientific name
Cerdale ionthas
Family
Microdesmidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
7.5 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Spots inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Superior (upward) inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
1.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Geen doelsoort voor de hengelsport; hooguit incidentele vangst of bruikbaar als aasvisje. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Cerdale

More from the family Microdesmidae

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