Home · Nemipteridae · Big-tailed besugo
Big-tailed besugo (Pentapodus caninus) — Nemipteridae

Big-tailed besugo

Pentapodus caninus
Family: Nemipteridae
LC · Least Concern

The Big-tailed besugo (Pentapodus caninus) is a saltwater fish of the family Nemipteridae that grows up to 35 cm.

Length
35 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
2.0–35.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The big-tailed besugo is a whiptail of the family Nemipteridae from the western Pacific. The species reaches about 35 cm and has a streamlined, silvery-blue body with yellow lateral stripes and a deeply forked tail of which a lobe may be elongate. It usually stays close to the bottom over coral reef areas, solitary or in small groups. The diet consists of small fishes, larger zooplankton and benthic organisms. The species is caught locally as a food fish.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Big-tailed besugo?

The Big-tailed besugo has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a horizontal stripes pattern.

Where does the Big-tailed besugo live?

The Big-tailed besugo lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Big-tailed besugo get?

The Big-tailed besugo grows to a maximum of about 35 cm. On average the species is around 15 cm.

Is the Big-tailed besugo dangerous to humans?

No, the Big-tailed besugo is harmless to humans.

Is the Big-tailed besugo edible?

Yes, the Big-tailed besugo is commonly 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
Hondsdraadstaart sourced
English name
Big-tailed besugo verified
Scientific name
Pentapodus caninus
Family
Nemipteridae
Other names
Bream; Canine-toothed mid-water bream; Redfin mid-water bream; Small-toothed threadfin-bream verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
35.0 verified
Average length (cm)
15.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Horizontal stripes inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
2.0 verified
Max depth (m)
35.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
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 sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Pentapodus

More from the family Nemipteridae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

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

Get the beta →