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Orange-lined wormfish (Gunnellichthys viridescens) — Microdesmidae

Orange-lined wormfish

Gunnellichthys viridescens
Family: Microdesmidae

The Orange-lined wormfish (Gunnellichthys viridescens) is a saltwater fish of the family Microdesmidae that grows up to 12 cm.

Length
12 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–50.0 m
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless

Description

The orange-lined wormfish is a slender wormfish (Microdesmidae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 12 cm and has a strongly elongate, pale body with an orange longitudinal line and a long, low dorsal fin. It hovers just above sand and rubble bottoms near reefs and darts into a burrow at lightning speed when threatened; it eats small zooplankton. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Orange-lined wormfish?

The Orange-lined wormfish has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly white and shows a horizontal stripes pattern.

Where does the Orange-lined wormfish live?

The Orange-lined wormfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Orange-lined wormfish get?

The Orange-lined wormfish grows to a maximum of about 12 cm.

Is the Orange-lined wormfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Orange-lined wormfish is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Oranjelijn-wormvis sourced
English name
Orange-lined wormfish sourced
Scientific name
Gunnellichthys viridescens
Family
Microdesmidae
Other names
Orange-stripe worm-goby; Yellowstripe wormfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
12.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
White sourced
Pattern
Horizontal stripes sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
50.0 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

Same genus Gunnellichthys

More from the family Microdesmidae

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