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Hikimi sleeper (Odontobutis hikimius) — Odontobutidae

Hikimi sleeper

Odontobutis hikimius
Family: Odontobutidae

The Hikimi sleeper (Odontobutis hikimius) is a freshwater fish of the family Odontobutidae that grows up to 16 cm.

Length
15.6 cm
Water
Freshwater
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Japan

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Description

The Hikimi sleeper is a sleeper (Odontobutidae) from fresh water of Japan in East Asia. The species grows to about 15 cm and has a stocky, brown-mottled body with a broad, flattened head, a large mouth and separate pelvic fins. As a nocturnal, bottom-oriented ambush hunter it shelters by day among stones, roots and leaf litter and seizes small fish, crustaceans and insects by night. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Hikimi sleeper?

The Hikimi sleeper has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a marbled pattern.

Where does the Hikimi sleeper live?

The Hikimi sleeper lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Asia: Japan

How big does the Hikimi sleeper get?

The Hikimi sleeper grows to a maximum of about 16 cm.

Is the Hikimi sleeper dangerous to humans?

No, the Hikimi sleeper 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.

More photos

Hikimi sleeper (Odontobutis hikimius) — Odontobutidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) pocasso, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Hikimi sleeper (Odontobutis hikimius) — Odontobutidae — 3
pocasso (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — iNaturalist
Hikimi sleeper (Odontobutis hikimius) — Odontobutidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) kusa-to-uo, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Hikimi sleeper sourced
Scientific name
Odontobutis hikimius
Family
Odontobutidae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
15.6 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Marbled sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Natural range
Asia: Japan sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Bottom fishing with natural bait (worm, shrimp or fish) on or just above the seabed. 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 Odontobutis

More from the family Odontobutidae

Fin

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