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White-eye (Oxyzygonectes dovii) — Anablepidae

White-eye

Oxyzygonectes dovii
Family: Anablepidae
LC · Least Concern

The White-eye (Oxyzygonectes dovii) is a brackish-water fish of the family Anablepidae that grows up to 15 cm.

Length
15 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
0–? m
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The white-eye is a small fish from the Pacific drainages of Central America, ranging from Nicaragua to Panama. The species grows to about 15 cm and has a silvery body with a conspicuous white eye and an upturned mouth for surface feeding. It lives in brackish and fresh water of lowland rivers and estuaries and feeds on detritus, algae and occasionally terrestrial insects. Unlike most relatives in the four-eyed fish family, this species is egg-laying rather than livebearing. The IUCN assesses the species as Least Concern (LC).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the White-eye?

The White-eye has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the White-eye live?

The White-eye lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the White-eye get?

The White-eye grows to a maximum of about 15 cm.

Is the White-eye dangerous to humans?

No, the White-eye is harmless to humans.

Is the White-eye edible?

The White-eye is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Witoog verified
English name
White-eye verified
Scientific name
Oxyzygonectes dovii
Family
Anablepidae
Other names
White-eye; White-eyes verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
15.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Superior (upward) sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
0 sourced
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups inferred
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
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 sourced

Status & sources

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

More from the family Anablepidae

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