Hairtail blenny
📖 Overview
Adults occur on open soft-bottom and mud habitats from shallow bays to deep water. They are found in tube-like burrows in sand or mud bottoms . Very rarely encountered but more usually seen at night . Nocturnal feeders. Stomach of two specimens trawled in 50-54 m off western India contain crustaceans (including copepods), polychaete remains, forams, fish scales, and some sand and mud . Oviparous. Eggs are demersal and adhesive , and are attached to the substrate via a filamentous, adhesive pad or pedestal . Larvae are planktonic, often found in shallow, coastal waters . Have eel-like bodies but are rarely seen swimming away from their burrow .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 13 - 14; Dorsal soft rays (total): 105 - 119; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 107 - 119. Easily distinguished from other blennies by an extremely elongate body. Dorsal fin origin above eye.: eel-like; Cross section: circular.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Hairtail blenny is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
Oviparous, distinct pairing .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; benthopelagic; depth range 2 - 1190 m . Tropical West Pacific: Red Sea and False Bay, South Africa to Vanuatu, north to southern Japan, south to Australia.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Hairtail blenny is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Detailed nutritional data for Hairtail blenny is currently being compiled from USDA FoodData Central.
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Hairtail blenny has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🔬 Full Nutritional Profile
Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Eel Blenny · Hair-tail Blenny · Hairtail Blenny · Snake Blenny · hairtailed blenny · Hair Tailed Blenny · Snakeblenny |
| 🌍CES | slizoun šnečí |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Unagigimpo · ウナギギンポ |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Blênio-espada-do-Indo-Pacífico |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Коричневополосая ксифазия |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Blenio Serpiente |
| 🌍THA | ปลากระบี่ |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 帶鳚 · 長鳚 |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nemophis lessoni | Kaup | 1858 | Synonym |
| Xiphasia trachypareia | Bleeker | 1864 | Synonym |
| Xiphogadus madagascariensis | Playfair | 1868 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 10 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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