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Grub fish (Parapercis pulchella) — Pinguipedidae

Grub fish

Parapercis pulchella
Family: Pinguipedidae
NE · Not Evaluated

The Grub fish (Parapercis pulchella) is a saltwater fish of the family Pinguipedidae that grows up to 20 cm.

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

Description

The harlequin sandperch is a handsomely coloured sandperch from the northwest Pacific, around Japan and Korea. The species grows to about 20 cm and has an elongate body with rows of orange-red and blue spots and bars. As a bottom-dweller it props itself on its pelvic fins on sand and rubble bottoms and darts at small crustaceans, worms and fish. Like many sandperches it is a protogynous hermaphrodite. The fish is harmless to humans. The IUCN has not evaluated the species.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Grub fish?

The Grub fish has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly red-orange and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Grub fish live?

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

How big does the Grub fish get?

The Grub fish grows to a maximum of about 20 cm.

Is the Grub fish dangerous to humans?

No, the Grub fish is harmless to humans.

Is the Grub fish edible?

The Grub fish is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Harlekijn-zandbaars verified
English name
Grub fish verified
Scientific name
Parapercis pulchella
Family
Pinguipedidae
Other names
Harlequin sandperch; Harlequin sandsmelt verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
20.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Red / orange sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

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

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
Yes sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Protogynous (female first) sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
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 Parapercis

More from the family Pinguipedidae

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