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Project Noah Nature School
Xiphasia setifer
Also known as Hairtail Blenny and Snake Blenny. This nocturnal feeder can easily be mistaken for an eel due to its snake-like body and elongated dorsal fin. It feeds on crustaceans, and grows to a length of 53cm.
Inhabits tube-like burrows in sandy areas or mud flats. Found in the Philippines, Australia, Madagascar, South Africa and other places.
Spotted this little critter at a depth of about 15m during a night dive. It measured approximately 10cm.
I guess this one was still a juvenile, as it measured less than half the maximum size of its species.
Thanks very much, everyone! Your comments and suggestions have been very helpful! :)
Beautiful spotting, Blogie! This little guy is actually a kind of blenny called a snake eel blenny (so he's trying to look like an eel that looks like a snake...!) I'll put a link to the Fishbase entry in my suggestion, but the pics are not great... here's another pic, to help you confirm! http://www.daveharasti.com/nelsonbay/fis... This is such a gorgeous photo of this animal.
I believe this is a clingfish - in the Alabes family. Does not have the tell-tale signs of a snake at all (although a serpentine like body) - the pectoral fin placement, mouth shape and eye shape are all wrong for an eel. Looking at spiny eels, the tail isn't right. This guy looks like a cousin of yours from the other side of the tracks: http://fishbase.org/Photos/PicturesSumma...
The mouth looks completely wrong for an eel, IMO. I had a fish (about 3 cm) in my tank with a body like this, but with smaller eyes & mouth. I think this is a fish. Looking at the mouth, a bottom feeder.
Thanks, guys! Yeah, I think it's an eel too. So now the question is, which species of eel is this?
Spotted on May 11, 2012
Submitted on May 21, 2012
