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Zebra dartfish (Ptereleotris zebra) — Microdesmidae

Zebra dartfish

Ptereleotris zebra
Family: Microdesmidae

The Zebra dartfish (Ptereleotris zebra) is a saltwater fish of the family Microdesmidae that grows up to 12 cm.

Length
12 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
2.0–31.0 m
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The Zebra dartfish is a dartfish (Microdesmidae) from the Indo-Pacific. The species grows to about 12 cm and has an elongate, blue body. Numerous narrow orange-red crossbars run over the flank. It hovers just above sand and rubble bottoms near reefs and darts into a burrow at lightning speed when threatened; it eats zooplankton from the current. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Zebra dartfish?

The Zebra dartfish has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly blue.

Where does the Zebra dartfish live?

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

How big does the Zebra dartfish get?

The Zebra dartfish grows to a maximum of about 12 cm.

Is the Zebra dartfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Zebra dartfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Zebra dartfish edible?

Yes, the Zebra dartfish is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Zebra-pijlgrondel sourced
English name
Zebra dartfish sourced
Scientific name
Ptereleotris zebra
Family
Microdesmidae
Other names
Chinese zebra goby; Zebra dartfish; Zebra dartgoby; Zebra dart-goby verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
12.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Blue sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
2.0 verified
Max depth (m)
31.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
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 Ptereleotris

More from the family Microdesmidae

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