Home · Malacanthidae · Blue tilefish
Blue tilefish (Hoplolatilus starcki) — Malacanthidae

Blue tilefish

Hoplolatilus starcki
Family: Malacanthidae
NE · Not Evaluated

The Blue tilefish (Hoplolatilus starcki) is a saltwater fish of the family Malacanthidae that grows up to 16 cm.

Length
15.5 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
20.0–105.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The blue tilefish is a small tilefish from the Western Pacific. The species grows to about 16 cm and has a streamlined body with a striking blue head and a yellowish back. As a bottom-dweller it lives in pairs on sand and rubble slopes near reefs, where it builds and guards a burrow of rubble and coral fragments. It feeds on small zooplankton it snatches just above the bottom. The fish appears in the reef aquarium. The IUCN has not evaluated the species.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Blue tilefish?

The Blue tilefish has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly blue and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Blue tilefish live?

The Blue tilefish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Blue tilefish get?

The Blue tilefish grows to a maximum of about 16 cm.

Is the Blue tilefish dangerous to humans?

No, the Blue tilefish is harmless to humans.

Is the Blue tilefish edible?

The Blue tilefish is not usually eaten.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Blauwe zandtegelvis verified
English name
Blue tilefish verified
Scientific name
Hoplolatilus starcki
Family
Malacanthidae
Other names
Bluehead tilefish; Blue-head tilefish; Purple-headed sand tilefish; Starck' tilefish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
15.5 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Blue inferred
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
20.0 verified
Max depth (m)
105.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups sourced
Territorial
Yes sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Hoplolatilus

More from the family Malacanthidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →