Ryan Photographi1c - Ptereleotridae - Dartfishes

Family Ptereleotridae

There are currently 45 species of these generally small fishes (<30cm), in five genera. They live above muddy or sandy bottoms and take refuge in burrows or if alarmed. Randall reports that they do not make their own burrows and may invite themselves into the burrow of a shrimp goby "where they may be unwelcome guests".

Dartfishes feed on small zooplankton. One of the fishes depicted here, Nemateleotris magnifica, flicks their first dorsal fin ray backwards and forwards - no one is sure why they do this but presumably to communicate with other fish.

Of the fish on this page N. magnifica is by far and away the easiest to photograph - a slow approach from below (if possible) pays dividends. If you are really lucky you'll be able to frame a pair. The other species, in my experience, are much more difficult to approach closely and a medium telephoto may bring about the best results.

Nemateleotris decora Decorated dartfish

Nemateleotris magnifica - Fire dartfish

Nemateleotris magnifica Fire dartfish

Ptereleotris evides - Two tone dartfish

FISH 0997 Ptereleotris evides - Two tone dartfish, Raja Ampat, West Papua.

Ptereleotris hanae Threadfin dartfish

Ptereleotris heteroptera Spottail dartfish

FISH 3908 Ptereleotris heteroptera Spottail dartfish, Kadavu, Fiji.

Ptereleotris zebra Zebra dartfish

FISH 3931 Ptereleotris zebra Zebra dartfish, Kadavu, Fiji.

Fishes

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