Home · Microdesmidae · Naked dartfish
Naked dartfish (Parioglossus nudus) — Microdesmidae

Naked dartfish

Parioglossus nudus
Family: Microdesmidae

The Naked dartfish (Parioglossus nudus) is a saltwater fish of the family Microdesmidae that grows up to 2 cm.

Length
2 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
5.0–37.0 m
Behaviour
Schooling
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Oceania: Solomon Is., Fiji, Indonesia, New Caledonia, Palau, Papua New Guinea and others

Want the complete picture on the Naked dartfish?

Get the app

Description

The Naked dartfish is a tiny dartfish or wormfish (Gobiidae) from shallow, clear coastal and mangrove water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to only about 3 cm and has an extremely slender, semi-translucent body, often with a fine longitudinal stripe and large eyes. As a social fish it hovers in schools just above sand, coral and roots and dives into a burrow when threatened; it snaps at small zooplankton. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Naked dartfish?

The Naked dartfish has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Naked dartfish live?

The Naked dartfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Oceania: Solomon Is., Fiji, Indonesia, New Caledonia, Palau, Papua New Guinea and others

How big does the Naked dartfish get?

The Naked dartfish grows to a maximum of about 2 cm.

Is the Naked dartfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Naked 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.

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Naked dartfish?

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

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Naked dartfish sourced
Scientific name
Parioglossus nudus
Family
Microdesmidae
Other names
Naked dart-goby; Naked hover goby verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
2.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
5.0 verified
Max depth (m)
37.0 verified
Natural range
Oceania: Solomon Is., Fiji, Indonesia, New Caledonia, Palau, Papua New Guinea and others sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
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

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 Parioglossus

More from the family Microdesmidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Naked dartfish?

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

Get the app →
Is this the Naked dartfish? Get the app