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Fish Identification: Find Species


Family: Microdesmidae Wormfishes



(See list of species below)


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86 species (see list below)

1 of 1 Jump to:
No picture found
Western Central Pacific.
Max. Length 2.4 cm TL
 
Aioliops brachypterus
[Shortfin minidartfish]

Photo by Tibbatts, B.

Western Central Pacific.
Max. Length 3 cm SL
Aioliops megastigma Rennis & Hoese, 1987

Photo by Tibbatts, B.
 
Aioliops megastigma
[Bigspot minidartfish]
No picture found
Western Central Pacific
Max. Length 2.3 cm TL
 
Aioliops novaeguineae
[New guinea minidartfish]
No picture found
Western Central Pacific.
 
Aioliops tetrophthalmus
[]
No picture found
Southwest Atlantic
Max. Length 3.8 cm SL
 
Cerdale fasciata
[]

Photo by Smith, D.G.

Western Atlantic
Max. Length 9 cm TL
Cerdale floridana Longley, 1934

Photo by Smith, D.G.
 
Cerdale floridana
[Pugjaw wormfish]

Photo by Allen, G.R.

Eastern Central Pacific
Max. Length 7.5 cm TL
Cerdale ionthas Jordan & Gilbert, 1882

Photo by Allen, G.R.
 
Cerdale ionthas
[Spotted worm goby]
No picture found
Eastern Pacific
 
Cerdale paludicola
[]
No picture found
Eastern Central Pacific
 
Cerdale prolata
[]

Photo by Robertson, R.

Eastern Central Pacific
Max. Length 6.2 cm SL
Clarkichthys bilineatus (Clark, 1936)

Photo by Robertson, R.
 
Clarkichthys bilineatus
[Flagtail wormfish]
No picture found
Western Indian Ocean.
 
Gunnellichthys copleyi
[]

Photo by Ryanskiy, A.

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 12 cm SL
Gunnellichthys curiosus Dawson, 1968

Photo by Ryanskiy, A.
 
Gunnellichthys curiosus
[Curious wormfish]
No picture found
Western Central Pacific.
 
Gunnellichthys grandoculis
[]
No picture found
Western Indian Ocean
 
Gunnellichthys irideus
[]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 15 cm SL
Gunnellichthys monostigma Smith, 1958

Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Gunnellichthys monostigma
[Onespot wormfish]

Photo by Winterbottom, R.

Western Central Pacific
Max. Length 12 cm SL
Gunnellichthys pleurotaenia Bleeker, 1858

Photo by Winterbottom, R.
 
Gunnellichthys pleurotaenia
[Onestripe wormfish]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 12 cm SL
Gunnellichthys viridescens Dawson, 1968

Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Gunnellichthys viridescens
[Yellowstripe wormfish]
No picture found
Eastern Central Atlantic
Max. Length 5.7 cm SL
 
Microdesmus aethiopicus
[]
No picture found
Eastern Central Pacific.
 
Microdesmus affinis
[Olivaceous wormfish]
No picture found
Eastern Central Atlantic
Max. Length 7.5 cm SL
 
Microdesmus africanus
[]

Photo by Macieira, R.M.

Western Atlantic
Max. Length 5.1 cm SL
Microdesmus bahianus Dawson, 1973

Photo by Macieira, R.M.
 
Microdesmus bahianus
[]

Photo by Smith, D.G.

Western Central Atlantic
Max. Length 5.3 cm SL
Microdesmus carri Gilbert, 1966

Photo by Smith, D.G.
 
Microdesmus carri
[Stippled wormfish]
No picture found
Eastern Central Pacific
Max. Length 8.8 cm SL
 
Microdesmus dipus
[Banded worm goby]

Photo by Robertson, R.

Eastern Central Pacific

Microdesmus dorsipunctatus Dawson, 1968

Photo by Robertson, R.
 
Microdesmus dorsipunctatus
[Spotback wormfish]
No picture found
Eastern Pacific
 
Microdesmus hildebrandi
[]
No picture found
Eastern Pacific
 
Microdesmus intermedius
[]
No picture found
Eastern Pacific
 
Microdesmus knappi
[]
No picture found
Western Atlantic
Max. Length 6 cm TL
 
Microdesmus lanceolatus
[Lancetail wormfish]

Photo by Smith, D.G.

Western Atlantic
Max. Length 27 cm TL
Microdesmus longipinnis (Weymouth, 1910)

Photo by Smith, D.G.
 
Microdesmus longipinnis
[Pink wormfish]
No picture found
Western Atlantic
Max. Length 4.6 cm SL
 
Microdesmus luscus
[Blind wormfish]
No picture found
Eastern Pacific
 
Microdesmus multiradiatus
[]

Photo by Allen, G.R.

Eastern Central Pacific
Max. Length 11 cm TL
Microdesmus retropinnis Jordan & Gilbert, 1882

Photo by Allen, G.R.
 
Microdesmus retropinnis
[Rearfin wormfish]
No picture found
Eastern Central Pacific
Max. Length 10.5 cm SL
 
Microdesmus suttkusi
[Spotside wormfish]

Photo by Motomura, H.

Pacific Ocean
Max. Length 40.7 cm SL
Navigobius dewa Hoese & Motomura, 2009

Photo by Motomura, H.
 
Navigobius dewa
[]

Photo by Brett, O.J. / www.tropicalfavourites.com

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 9 cm TL
Nemateleotris decora Randall & Allen, 1973

Photo by Brett, O.J. / www.tropicalfavourites.com
 
Nemateleotris decora
[Elegant firefish]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Pacific Ocean
Max. Length 6 cm TL
Nemateleotris helfrichi Randall & Allen, 1973

Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Nemateleotris helfrichi
[Helfrichs' dartfish]

Photo by Baur, J.-C.

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 9 cm TL
Nemateleotris magnifica Fowler, 1938

Photo by Baur, J.-C.
 
Nemateleotris magnifica
[Fire goby]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Western Pacific
Max. Length 24 cm SL
Oxymetopon compressus Chan, 1966

Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Oxymetopon compressus
[Robust ribbongoby]

Photo by Kuiter, R.H.

Western Pacific
Max. Length 20 cm TL
Oxymetopon cyanoctenosum Klausewitz & Condé, 1981

Photo by Kuiter, R.H.
 
Oxymetopon cyanoctenosum
[Blue-barred ribbon goby]
No picture found
Western Pacific
 
Oxymetopon filamentosum
[]
No picture found
Western Pacific
 
Oxymetopon formosum
[]

Photo by Kuiter, R.H.

Western Central Pacific.
Max. Length 18 cm SL
Oxymetopon typus Bleeker, 1861

Photo by Kuiter, R.H.
 
Oxymetopon typus
[Sailfin ribbon-goby]
No picture found
Indo-West Pacific
 
Paragunnellichthys seychellensis
[Seychelle's wormfish]
No picture found
Western Indian Ocean
 
Paragunnellichthys springeri
[]
No picture found
Pacific Ocean.
Max. Length 3.1 cm TL
 
Parioglossus aporos
[Poreless dartfish]
No picture found
Northwest Pacific
Max. Length 2.7 cm SL
 
Parioglossus caeruleolineatus
[]

Photo by Shiina, M.

Western Pacific
Max. Length 4 cm SL
Parioglossus dotui Tomiyama, 1958

Photo by Shiina, M.
 
Parioglossus dotui
[]

Photo by Winterbottom, R.

Western Pacific
Max. Length 4.5 cm SL
Parioglossus formosus (Smith, 1931)

Photo by Winterbottom, R.
 
Parioglossus formosus
[Beautiful hover goby]

Photo by Williams, J.T.

Eastern Central Pacific
Max. Length 2.4 cm SL
Parioglossus galzini Williams & Lecchini, 2004

Photo by Williams, J.T.
 
Parioglossus galzini
[]
No picture found
Western Pacific
Max. Length 2.5 cm SL
 
Parioglossus interruptus
[Interrupted dartfish]
No picture found
Western Central Pacific
 
Parioglossus lineatus
[Lined hover goby]
No picture found
Southwest Pacific.
Max. Length 3.3 cm SL
 
Parioglossus marginalis
[]

Photo by Keith, P.

Western Indian Ocean
Max. Length 3.5 cm SL
Parioglossus multiradiatus Keith, Bosc & Valade, 2004

Photo by Keith, P.
 
Parioglossus multiradiatus
[]

Photo by IRD/C. Ledru

Western Pacific.

Parioglossus neocaledonicus Dingerkus & Séret, 1992

Photo by IRD/C. Ledru
 
Parioglossus neocaledonicus
[]

Photo by Winterbottom, R.

Western Central Pacific
Max. Length 2 cm SL
Parioglossus nudus Rennis & Hoese, 1985

Photo by Winterbottom, R.
 
Parioglossus nudus
[Naked hover goby]

Photo by Suzuki, T.

Western Pacific
Max. Length 2.8 cm SL
Parioglossus palustris (Herre, 1945)

Photo by Suzuki, T.
 
Parioglossus palustris
[Borneo hoverer]

Photo by Suzuki, T.

Indo-West Pacific.
Max. Length 3.5 cm SL
Parioglossus philippinus (Herre, 1945)

Photo by Suzuki, T.
 
Parioglossus philippinus
[Philippine dartfish]

Photo by Suzuki, T.

Western Pacific

Parioglossus rainfordi McCulloch, 1921

Photo by Suzuki, T.
 
Parioglossus rainfordi
[Rainford's dartfish]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Indo-West Pacific
Max. Length 3.5 cm SL
Parioglossus raoi (Herre, 1939)

Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Parioglossus raoi
[Rao's hover goby]
No picture found
Western Pacific
Max. Length 2.3 cm SL
 
Parioglossus senoui
[]
No picture found
Northwest Pacific
 
Parioglossus sinensis
[]

Photo by Suzuki, T.

Indo-West Pacific

Parioglossus taeniatus Regan, 1912

Photo by Suzuki, T.
 
Parioglossus taeniatus
[Taeniatus dartfish]
No picture found
Western Pacific Ocean
 
Parioglossus triquetrus
[]
No picture found
Western Central Pacific
 
Parioglossus verticalis
[Vertical hover goby]
No picture found
Eastern Indian Ocean
 
Parioglossus winterbottomi
[]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Western Indian Ocean
Max. Length 11.2 cm SL
Ptereleotris arabica Randall & Hoese, 1985

Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Ptereleotris arabica
[Arabian dartfish]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Western Central Pacific
Max. Length 5.8 cm SL
Ptereleotris brachyptera Randall & Suzuki, 2008

Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Ptereleotris brachyptera
[Lowfin dartfish]
No picture found
Eastern Indian Ocean
Max. Length 6.1 cm
 
Ptereleotris caeruleomarginata
[Bluemargin dartfish]

Photo by Cherson, A.

Western Atlantic
Max. Length 12.5 cm TL
Ptereleotris calliura (Jordan & Gilbert, 1882)

Photo by Cherson, A.
 
Ptereleotris calliura
[Blue goby]

Photo by Allen, G.R.

Eastern Central Pacific

Ptereleotris carinata Bussing, 2001

Photo by Allen, G.R.
 
Ptereleotris carinata
[Panamic dartfish]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Western Pacific
Max. Length 4.1 cm SL
Ptereleotris crossogenion Randall & Suzuki, 2008

Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Ptereleotris crossogenion
[Fringechin dartfish]

Photo by Du, J.-G.

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 14 cm TL
Ptereleotris evides (Jordan & Hubbs, 1925)

Photo by Du, J.-G.
 
Ptereleotris evides
[Blackfin dartfish]

Photo by Pelicier, D.

Indo-West Pacific
Max. Length 10 cm TL
Ptereleotris grammica Randall & Lubbock, 1982

Photo by Pelicier, D.
 
Ptereleotris grammica
[Lined dartfish]

Photo by AquaNet

Pacific Ocean
Max. Length 12 cm TL
Ptereleotris hanae (Jordan & Snyder, 1901)

Photo by AquaNet
 
Ptereleotris hanae
[Blue hana goby]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Western Atlantic
Max. Length 12 cm TL
Ptereleotris helenae (Randall, 1968)

Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Ptereleotris helenae
[Hovering goby]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 14 cm TL
Ptereleotris heteroptera (Bleeker, 1855)

Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Ptereleotris heteroptera
[Blacktail goby]

Photo by Suzuki, T.

Western Pacific
Max. Length 8.4 cm SL
Ptereleotris kallista Randall & Suzuki, 2008

Photo by Suzuki, T.
 
Ptereleotris kallista
[Beautiful Dartfish]
No picture found
Indo-West Pacific
Max. Length 11.5 cm TL
 
Ptereleotris lineopinnis
[Sad glider]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Eastern Central Pacific
Max. Length 10.3 cm SL
Ptereleotris melanopogon Randall & Hoese, 1985

Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Ptereleotris melanopogon
[]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 13 cm TL
Ptereleotris microlepis (Bleeker, 1856)

Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Ptereleotris microlepis
[Blue gudgeon]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 12 cm SL
Ptereleotris monoptera Randall & Hoese, 1985

Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Ptereleotris monoptera
[Lyre-tail dart-goby]

Photo by Luiz, Jr., O.

Southwest Atlantic
Max. Length 8.7 cm SL
Ptereleotris randalli Gasparini, Rocha & Floeter, 2001

Photo by Luiz, Jr., O.
 
Ptereleotris randalli
[Brazilian dartfish]
No picture found
Western Pacific
 
Ptereleotris rubristigma
[Redspot dartfish]

Photo by Randall, J.E.

Western Central Pacific
Max. Length 10 cm SL
Ptereleotris uroditaenia Randall & Hoese, 1985

Photo by Randall, J.E.
 
Ptereleotris uroditaenia
[Flagtail dartfish]

Photo by Field, R.

Indo-Pacific
Max. Length 12 cm SL
Ptereleotris zebra (Fowler, 1938)

Photo by Field, R.
 
Ptereleotris zebra
[Chinese zebra goby]
No picture found
Australia
Max. Length 43.5 cm SL
 
Pterocerdale insolita
[]
86 Species of Family Microdesmidae
(Wormfishes)
Sort by: Species Length Year
1 of 1 Jump to:
Year Scientific Name English Name Distribution Max. Length (cm)
1987 Aioliops brachypterus Shortfin minidartfish Western Central Pacific. 2.4 TL
1987 Aioliops megastigma Bigspot minidartfish Western Central Pacific. 3 SL
1987 Aioliops novaeguineae New guinea minidartfish Western Central Pacific 2.3 TL
1987 Aioliops tetrophthalmus Western Central Pacific.
1974 Cerdale fasciata Southwest Atlantic 3.8 SL
1934 Cerdale floridana Pugjaw wormfish Western Atlantic 9 TL
1882 Cerdale ionthas Spotted worm goby Eastern Central Pacific 7.5 TL
1974 Cerdale paludicola Eastern Pacific
1974 Cerdale prolata Eastern Central Pacific
1936 Clarkichthys bilineatus Flagtail wormfish Eastern Central Pacific 6.2 SL
1951 Gunnellichthys copleyi Western Indian Ocean.
1968 Gunnellichthys curiosus Curious wormfish Indo-Pacific 12 SL
1911 Gunnellichthys grandoculis Western Central Pacific.
1958 Gunnellichthys irideus Western Indian Ocean
1958 Gunnellichthys monostigma Onespot wormfish Indo-Pacific 15 SL
1858 Gunnellichthys pleurotaenia Onestripe wormfish Western Central Pacific 12 SL
1968 Gunnellichthys viridescens Yellowstripe wormfish Indo-Pacific 12 SL
1927 Microdesmus aethiopicus Eastern Central Atlantic 5.7 SL
1928 Microdesmus affinis Olivaceous wormfish Eastern Central Pacific.
1979 Microdesmus africanus Eastern Central Atlantic 7.5 SL
1973 Microdesmus bahianus Western Atlantic 5.1 SL
1966 Microdesmus carri Stippled wormfish Western Central Atlantic 5.3 SL
1864 Microdesmus dipus Banded worm goby Eastern Central Pacific 8.8 SL
1968 Microdesmus dorsipunctatus Spotback wormfish Eastern Central Pacific
1936 Microdesmus hildebrandi Eastern Pacific
1928 Microdesmus intermedius Eastern Pacific
1972 Microdesmus knappi Eastern Pacific
1962 Microdesmus lanceolatus Lancetail wormfish Western Atlantic 6 TL
1910 Microdesmus longipinnis Pink wormfish Western Atlantic 27 TL
1977 Microdesmus luscus Blind wormfish Western Atlantic 4.6 SL
1928 Microdesmus multiradiatus Eastern Pacific
1882 Microdesmus retropinnis Rearfin wormfish Eastern Central Pacific 11 TL
1966 Microdesmus suttkusi Spotside wormfish Eastern Central Pacific 10.5 SL
2009 Navigobius dewa Pacific Ocean 40.7 SL
1973 Nemateleotris decora Elegant firefish Indo-Pacific 9 TL
1973 Nemateleotris helfrichi Helfrichs' dartfish Pacific Ocean 6 TL
1938 Nemateleotris magnifica Fire goby Indo-Pacific 9 TL
1966 Oxymetopon compressus Robust ribbongoby Western Pacific 24 SL
1981 Oxymetopon cyanoctenosum Blue-barred ribbon goby Western Pacific 20 TL
1967 Oxymetopon filamentosum Western Pacific
1967 Oxymetopon formosum Western Pacific
1861 Oxymetopon typus Sailfin ribbon-goby Western Central Pacific. 18 SL
1967 Paragunnellichthys seychellensis Seychelle's wormfish Indo-West Pacific
1970 Paragunnellichthys springeri Western Indian Ocean
1985 Parioglossus aporos Poreless dartfish Pacific Ocean. 3.1 TL
2010 Parioglossus caeruleolineatus Northwest Pacific 2.7 SL
1958 Parioglossus dotui Western Pacific 4 SL
1931 Parioglossus formosus Beautiful hover goby Western Pacific 4.5 SL
2004 Parioglossus galzini Eastern Central Pacific 2.4 SL
1994 Parioglossus interruptus Interrupted dartfish Western Pacific 2.5 SL
1985 Parioglossus lineatus Lined hover goby Western Central Pacific
1985 Parioglossus marginalis Southwest Pacific. 3.3 SL
2004 Parioglossus multiradiatus Western Indian Ocean 3.5 SL
1992 Parioglossus neocaledonicus Western Pacific.
1985 Parioglossus nudus Naked hover goby Western Central Pacific 2 SL
1945 Parioglossus palustris Borneo hoverer Western Pacific 2.8 SL
1945 Parioglossus philippinus Philippine dartfish Indo-West Pacific. 3.5 SL
1921 Parioglossus rainfordi Rainford's dartfish Western Pacific
1939 Parioglossus raoi Rao's hover goby Indo-West Pacific 3.5 SL
2010 Parioglossus senoui Western Pacific 2.3 SL
1994 Parioglossus sinensis Northwest Pacific
1912 Parioglossus taeniatus Taeniatus dartfish Indo-West Pacific
1985 Parioglossus triquetrus Western Pacific Ocean
1985 Parioglossus verticalis Vertical hover goby Western Central Pacific
2010 Parioglossus winterbottomi Eastern Indian Ocean
1985 Ptereleotris arabica Arabian dartfish Western Indian Ocean 11.2 SL
2008 Ptereleotris brachyptera Lowfin dartfish Western Central Pacific 5.8 SL
2012 Ptereleotris caeruleomarginata Bluemargin dartfish Eastern Indian Ocean 6.1
1882 Ptereleotris calliura Blue goby Western Atlantic 12.5 TL
2001 Ptereleotris carinata Panamic dartfish Eastern Central Pacific
2008 Ptereleotris crossogenion Fringechin dartfish Western Pacific 4.1 SL
1925 Ptereleotris evides Blackfin dartfish Indo-Pacific 14 TL
1982 Ptereleotris grammica Lined dartfish Indo-West Pacific 10 TL
1901 Ptereleotris hanae Blue hana goby Pacific Ocean 12 TL
1968 Ptereleotris helenae Hovering goby Western Atlantic 12 TL
1855 Ptereleotris heteroptera Blacktail goby Indo-Pacific 14 TL
2008 Ptereleotris kallista Beautiful Dartfish Western Pacific 8.4 SL
1935 Ptereleotris lineopinnis Sad glider Indo-West Pacific 11.5 TL
1985 Ptereleotris melanopogon Eastern Central Pacific 10.3 SL
1856 Ptereleotris microlepis Blue gudgeon Indo-Pacific 13 TL
1985 Ptereleotris monoptera Lyre-tail dart-goby Indo-Pacific 12 SL
2001 Ptereleotris randalli Brazilian dartfish Southwest Atlantic 8.7 SL
2012 Ptereleotris rubristigma Redspot dartfish Western Pacific
1985 Ptereleotris uroditaenia Flagtail dartfish Western Central Pacific 10 SL
1938 Ptereleotris zebra Chinese zebra goby Indo-Pacific 12 SL
2009 Pterocerdale insolita Australia 43.5 SL



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cfm script by eagbayani, 30.11.04, ,  php script by cmilitante, 05/11/2010 ,  last modified by cmilitante, 14/03/2013