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Three-striped whiptail (Pentapodus trivittatus) — Nemipteridae

Three-striped whiptail

Pentapodus trivittatus
Family: Nemipteridae

The Three-striped whiptail (Pentapodus trivittatus) is a saltwater fish of the family Nemipteridae that grows up to 28 cm.

Length
28 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
2.0–30.0 m
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Solomon Is., Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Micronesia, Palau and others
Edibility
Rarely eaten

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Description

The three-striped whiptail is a threadfin bream (Nemipteridae) from the western Pacific. The species grows to about 28 cm and has an elongate, silvery body with a few dark longitudinal stripes along the flank. As a bottom-oriented predator it lives over sand, rubble and reef bottoms and hunts small crustaceans, worms and small fish. It is a food fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Three-striped whiptail?

The Three-striped whiptail has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a horizontal stripes pattern.

Where does the Three-striped whiptail live?

The Three-striped whiptail lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Asia: Solomon Is., Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Micronesia, Palau and others

How big does the Three-striped whiptail get?

The Three-striped whiptail grows to a maximum of about 28 cm. On average the species is around 15 cm.

Is the Three-striped whiptail dangerous to humans?

No, the Three-striped whiptail 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.

Is the Three-striped whiptail edible?

The Three-striped whiptail is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

English name
Three-striped whiptail sourced
Scientific name
Pentapodus trivittatus
Family
Nemipteridae
Other names
Striped whiptail; Threadtail bream; Three-banded threadfin-bream; Three-striped whiptail; Small-toothed whiptail verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
28.0 verified
Average length (cm)
15.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Pattern
Horizontal stripes 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)
30.0 verified
Natural range
Asia: Solomon Is., Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Micronesia, Palau and others sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

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

Edibility
Rarely eaten inferred
Fishing method
Fishing with natural bait (fish, shrimp, worm) or lures close to reef and rock structures. 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 Pentapodus

More from the family Nemipteridae

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