Home · Microdesmidae · Filament-finned dartfish
Filament-finned dartfish (Ptereleotris hanae) — Microdesmidae

Filament-finned dartfish

Ptereleotris hanae
Family: Microdesmidae

The Filament-finned dartfish (Ptereleotris hanae) is a saltwater fish of the family Microdesmidae that grows up to 12 cm.

Length
12 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
3.0–50.0 m
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Oceania: American Samoa, Australia, Solomon Is., Taiwan/Ch Taipei, French Polynesia, Kiribati and others
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Want the complete picture on the Filament-finned dartfish?

Get the app

Description

The Filament-finned dartfish is a dartfish (Microdesmidae) from the western Pacific. The species grows to about 12 cm and has an elongate, blue body. Males have strongly elongate, thread-like dorsal-fin rays. It hovers just above sand and rubble bottoms near reefs and darts into a burrow at lightning speed when threatened; it eats zooplankton from the current. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Filament-finned dartfish?

The Filament-finned dartfish has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly blue.

Where does the Filament-finned dartfish live?

The Filament-finned dartfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Oceania: American Samoa, Australia, Solomon Is., Taiwan/Ch Taipei, French Polynesia, Kiribati and others

How big does the Filament-finned dartfish get?

The Filament-finned dartfish grows to a maximum of about 12 cm.

Is the Filament-finned dartfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Filament-finned dartfish 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 Filament-finned dartfish edible?

Yes, the Filament-finned dartfish is commonly eaten.

More photos

Filament-finned dartfish (Ptereleotris hanae) — Microdesmidae — 2
Randall, John E. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Filament-finned dartfish (Ptereleotris hanae) — Microdesmidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Erik Schlögl, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Filament-finned dartfish (Ptereleotris hanae) — Microdesmidae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — Izuzuki (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Filament-finned dartfish (Ptereleotris hanae) — Microdesmidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Sue Churchill, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Filament-finned dartfish?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Filament-finned dartfish is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Filament-finned dartfish sourced
Scientific name
Ptereleotris hanae
Family
Microdesmidae
Other names
Blue hana goby; Filament dartfish; Threadfin dartfish; Thread-tail dartgoby; Thread-tail dart-goby; Blue goby verified

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
3.0 verified
Max depth (m)
50.0 verified
Natural range
Oceania: American Samoa, Australia, Solomon Is., Taiwan/Ch Taipei, French Polynesia, Kiribati 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
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish. 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 Ptereleotris

More from the family Microdesmidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Filament-finned dartfish?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Filament-finned dartfish is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Filament-finned dartfish? Get the app