Home · Schindleriidae · Schindler's fish
Schindler's fish (Schindleria praematura) — Schindleriidae

Schindler's fish

Schindleria praematura

The Schindler's fish (Schindleria praematura) is a saltwater fish of the family Schindleriidae that grows up to 3 cm.

Length
2.5 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–130.0 m
Behaviour
Schooling
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless

Description

Schindler's fish is one of the smallest and lightest vertebrates in the world, a goby relative (Schindleriidae) from warm reef and surface water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to only about 2 cm and keeps a larval, almost transparent, slender body with large eyes for life. As a short-lived plankton fish it hovers in schools in the upper layer and snaps at microscopic zooplankton. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Schindler's fish?

The Schindler's fish has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Schindler's fish live?

The Schindler's fish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around open water.

How big does the Schindler's fish get?

The Schindler's fish grows to a maximum of about 3 cm.

Is the Schindler's fish dangerous to humans?

No, the Schindler's fish is harmless to humans.

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
Dwerg-infantvis sourced
English name
Schindler's fish sourced
Scientific name
Schindleria praematura
Family
Schindleriidae
Other names
Premature floater; Schindler's fish verified

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
130.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
levensduur_max_jaar
0.5 verified

For anglers

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

Download Fin's Fish Guide

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

Get the beta →