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Blue whiptail (Pentapodus emeryii) — Nemipteridae

Blue whiptail

Pentapodus emeryii
Family: Nemipteridae

The Blue whiptail (Pentapodus emeryii) 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
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The blue whiptail is a threadfin bream (Nemipteridae) from coastal waters of the eastern Indian Ocean, off western Australia. The species grows to about 35 cm and has an elongate, bright-blue body with yellow longitudinal lines and a strongly extended, thread-like upper tail lobe. As a bottom-oriented fish it hovers over sand and reef bottoms and hunts small crustaceans, worms and small fish. It is a food fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Blue whiptail?

The Blue whiptail has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly blue and shows a horizontal stripes pattern.

Where does the Blue whiptail live?

The Blue whiptail lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Blue whiptail get?

The Blue whiptail grows to a maximum of about 35 cm. On average the species is around 18 cm.

Is the Blue whiptail dangerous to humans?

No, the Blue whiptail is harmless to humans.

Is the Blue whiptail edible?

The Blue whiptail is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Blauwe draadstaart sourced
English name
Blue whiptail sourced
Scientific name
Pentapodus emeryii
Family
Nemipteridae
Other names
Double whiptail verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
35.0 verified
Average length (cm)
18.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Blue sourced
Pattern
Horizontal stripes sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

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 inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten inferred
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 verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Pentapodus

More from the family Nemipteridae

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