Home · Microdesmidae · Pugjaw wormfish
Pugjaw wormfish (Cerdale floridana) — Microdesmidae

Pugjaw wormfish

Cerdale floridana
Family: Microdesmidae
LC · Least Concern

The Pugjaw wormfish (Cerdale floridana) is a saltwater fish of the family Microdesmidae that grows up to 9 cm.

Length
9 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–30.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Western Atlantic; soft muddy and sandy bottoms of shallow water.
Edibility
Not eaten

Want the complete picture on the Pugjaw wormfish?

Get the app

Description

The pugjaw wormfish is a small wormfish of the family Microdesmidae from the western Atlantic Ocean. The species has a very elongate, eel-like body with a continuous dorsal and anal fin and a short, blunt snout. It burrows in soft mud and sand bottoms of shallow water and quickly darts into its burrow when threatened. It feeds on small zooplankton and small benthic crustaceans picked from the water. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Pugjaw wormfish?

The Pugjaw wormfish has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern. Eel-like little worm fish that burrows into soft bottoms and darts into its burrow when threatened.

Where does the Pugjaw wormfish live?

The Pugjaw wormfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Western Atlantic; soft muddy and sandy bottoms of shallow water.

How big does the Pugjaw wormfish get?

The Pugjaw wormfish grows to a maximum of about 9 cm.

Is the Pugjaw wormfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Pugjaw wormfish is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Pugjaw wormfish edible?

The Pugjaw wormfish is not usually eaten.

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Pugjaw wormfish?

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

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Pugjaw wormfish verified
Scientific name
Cerdale floridana
Family
Microdesmidae
Other names
Pugjaw wormfish; Pugjaw Wormfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
9.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
30.0 verified
Natural range
Western Atlantic; soft muddy and sandy bottoms of shallow water. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small zooplankton and small bottom-dwelling crustaceans sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred
Special features
Eel-like little worm fish that burrows into soft bottoms and darts into its burrow when threatened. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Not a target species for angling; at most an incidental catch or usable as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Cerdale

More from the family Microdesmidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Pugjaw wormfish?

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

Get the app →
Is this the Pugjaw wormfish? Get the app