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Norfolk brotula (Dipulus norfolkanus) — Bythitidae

Norfolk brotula

Dipulus norfolkanus
Family: Bythitidae

The Norfolk brotula (Dipulus norfolkanus) is a saltwater fish of the family Bythitidae that grows up to 7 cm.

Length
7.3 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–15.0 m
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Norfolk brotula is a cusk eel (Ophidiidae) of sand and mud bottoms of the continental slope around Australia and the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 25 cm and has a slender, elongate, pale to brownish body with long, confluent dorsal and anal fins and small eyes. As a sluggish bottom-dweller of deeper water it shelters in soft sediment and snaps at small crustaceans and worms. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Norfolk brotula?

The Norfolk brotula has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Norfolk brotula live?

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

How big does the Norfolk brotula get?

The Norfolk brotula grows to a maximum of about 7 cm.

Is the Norfolk brotula dangerous to humans?

No, the Norfolk brotula is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Norfolk-naaldvis sourced
English name
Norfolk brotula sourced
Scientific name
Dipulus norfolkanus
Family
Bythitidae

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
15.0 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 Bythitidae

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