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Striped cusk-eel (Grammonus diagrammus) — Bythitidae

Striped cusk-eel

Grammonus diagrammus
Family: Bythitidae

The Striped cusk-eel (Grammonus diagrammus) is a saltwater fish of the family Bythitidae that grows up to 20 cm.

Length
20.3 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
6.0–18.0 m
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Striped cusk-eel is a livebearing brotula (Bythitidae) from deeper reef, cave and rocky water of the western Atlantic and Caribbean. The species grows to about 15 cm and has a flabby, elongate, pale to brownish body with long, confluent dorsal and anal fins and small eyes. As a shy, nocturnal fish it hides deep in caves, crevices and under overhanging reef and snaps at small crustaceans. It gives birth to live young. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Striped cusk-eel?

The Striped cusk-eel has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Striped cusk-eel live?

The Striped cusk-eel lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Striped cusk-eel get?

The Striped cusk-eel grows to a maximum of about 20 cm.

Is the Striped cusk-eel dangerous to humans?

No, the Striped cusk-eel is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Streep-grotbrotula sourced
English name
Striped cusk-eel sourced
Scientific name
Grammonus diagrammus
Family
Bythitidae
Other names
Purple brotula verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
20.3 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
6.0 verified
Max depth (m)
18.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Grammonus

More from the family Bythitidae

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