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Bahia wormfish (Microdesmus bahianus) — Microdesmidae

Bahia wormfish

Microdesmus bahianus
Family: Microdesmidae
LC · Least Concern

The Bahia wormfish (Microdesmus bahianus) is a saltwater fish of the family Microdesmidae that grows up to 5 cm.

Length
5.1 cm
Water
Saltwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The Bahia wormfish is a wormfish (Microdesmidae) from shallow sand and mud water of the western Atlantic off Brazil. The species grows to about 8 cm and has an extremely slender, worm-like, semi-translucent body with a small head and a long, continuous dorsal fin. As a cryptic bottom-dweller it lives in a burrow in soft mud or sand and snaps at small zooplankton and small invertebrates. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Bahia wormfish?

The Bahia wormfish has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Bahia wormfish live?

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

How big does the Bahia wormfish get?

The Bahia wormfish grows to a maximum of about 5 cm.

Is the Bahia wormfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Bahia wormfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Bahia wormfish edible?

The Bahia wormfish is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Bahia-wormvis sourced
English name
Bahia wormfish sourced
Scientific name
Microdesmus bahianus
Family
Microdesmidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
5.1 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

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

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 verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Microdesmus

More from the family Microdesmidae

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