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Serpent blenny (Lumpenus lampretaeformis) — Stichaeidae

Serpent blenny

Lumpenus lampretaeformis
Family: Stichaeidae
NE · Not Evaluated

The Serpent blenny (Lumpenus lampretaeformis) is a saltwater fish of the family Stichaeidae that grows up to 50 cm.

Length
50 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
30.0–373.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The snakeblenny is a very elongate, eel-like bottom fish of the family Stichaeidae reaching about 50 cm. A long, continuous dorsal fin runs along almost the whole body, the anal fin along two-thirds, and the tail tapers to a point. The colour is pale brown on the back, bluish on the flanks and greenish-yellow on the belly, with numerous irregular brown patches. The species lives on mud bottoms of the northern Atlantic, North Sea and Baltic, usually between 40 and 100 m, in self-dug Y-shaped tubes. It feeds on small crustaceans, molluscs, brittle stars and worms. The snakeblenny is of no fisheries value.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Serpent blenny?

The Serpent blenny has a snake-like body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Serpent blenny live?

The Serpent blenny lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Serpent blenny get?

The Serpent blenny grows to a maximum of about 50 cm.

Is the Serpent blenny dangerous to humans?

No, the Serpent blenny is harmless to humans.

Is the Serpent blenny edible?

The Serpent blenny is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Slangvis verified
English name
Serpent blenny verified
Scientific name
Lumpenus lampretaeformis
Family
Stichaeidae
Other names
Snake blenny; Snakeblenny verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
50.0 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Straight sourced
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No verified
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes verified

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
30.0 verified
Max depth (m)
373.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore verified
Social behaviour
Solitary verified
Territorial
No verified
Reproduction
Separate sexes verified
Sexual dimorphism
No verified
levensduur_max_jaar
9 inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten verified
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. 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 Lumpenus

More from the family Stichaeidae

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