Home · Creediidae · Barred sand burrower
Barred sand burrower (Limnichthys fasciatus) — Creediidae

Barred sand burrower

Limnichthys fasciatus
Family: Creediidae

The Barred sand burrower (Limnichthys fasciatus) is a saltwater fish of the family Creediidae that grows up to 5 cm.

Length
5 cm
Water
Saltwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The barred sand burrower is a very small bottom fish from the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 5 cm and has a slender, translucent body with narrow dark crossbars and high-set eyes. As a bottom-dweller it lies largely buried in clean sand of shallow reef lagoons and sand flats, with only the eyes showing, and ambushes small zooplankton passing by. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Barred sand burrower?

The Barred sand burrower has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly white and shows a vertical stripes pattern.

Where does the Barred sand burrower live?

The Barred sand burrower lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Barred sand burrower get?

The Barred sand burrower grows to a maximum of about 5 cm.

Is the Barred sand burrower dangerous to humans?

No, the Barred sand burrower is harmless to humans.

Is the Barred sand burrower edible?

The Barred sand burrower is not usually eaten.

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
Gebande zandduiker verified
English name
Barred sand burrower verified
Scientific name
Limnichthys fasciatus
Family
Creediidae
Other names
Sand-diver; Striped sand-diver; Tommy fish; Tommyfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
5.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
White sourced
Pattern
Vertical bars sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Superior (upward) sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Geen doelsoort voor de hengelsport; hooguit incidentele vangst of bruikbaar als aasvisje. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Limnichthys

More from the family Creediidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

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

Get the beta →