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Tau sandburrower (Chalixodytes tauensis) — Creediidae

Tau sandburrower

Chalixodytes tauensis
Family: Creediidae

The Tau sandburrower (Chalixodytes tauensis) is a saltwater fish of the family Creediidae that grows up to 5 cm.

Length
4.6 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–10.0 m
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Tau sandburrower is a sandburrower (Creediidae) from shallow, clear sandy water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 6 cm and has a slender, translucent, sandy body with a projecting lower jaw and high-set eyes. As a bottom-dweller it dives lightning-fast into loose sand and waits there half-buried for small zooplankton and small crustaceans. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Tau sandburrower?

The Tau sandburrower has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Tau sandburrower live?

The Tau sandburrower lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Tau sandburrower get?

The Tau sandburrower grows to a maximum of about 5 cm.

Is the Tau sandburrower dangerous to humans?

No, the Tau sandburrower is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Tau-zandduiker sourced
English name
Tau sandburrower sourced
Scientific name
Chalixodytes tauensis
Family
Creediidae
Other names
Saddled sandburrower verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
4.6 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

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

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

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

More from the family Creediidae

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