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Paradise whiptail (Pentapodus paradiseus) — Nemipteridae

Paradise whiptail

Pentapodus paradiseus
Family: Nemipteridae

The Paradise whiptail (Pentapodus paradiseus) is a saltwater fish of the family Nemipteridae that grows up to 30 cm.

Length
30 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
10.0–70.0 m
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The paradise whiptail is a threadfin bream (Nemipteridae) from the western Pacific. The species grows to about 30 cm and has an elongate, blue-grey body with yellow and blue longitudinal lines and a thread-like elongate upper tail lobe. As a bottom-oriented predator it lives over sand and rubble bottoms near reefs 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 Paradise whiptail?

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

Where does the Paradise whiptail live?

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

How big does the Paradise whiptail get?

The Paradise whiptail grows to a maximum of about 30 cm. On average the species is around 15 cm.

Is the Paradise whiptail dangerous to humans?

No, the Paradise whiptail is harmless to humans.

Is the Paradise whiptail edible?

The Paradise whiptail is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Paradijs-draadstaart sourced
English name
Paradise whiptail sourced
Scientific name
Pentapodus paradiseus
Family
Nemipteridae
Other names
Blue-faced whiptail; Butterfly bream; China fish; Long-tail perch; Paddy verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
30.0 verified
Average length (cm)
15.0 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)
10.0 verified
Max depth (m)
70.0 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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