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Family Ptereleotridae
Dartfishes
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Dartfishes live in sandy burrows and have paired pelvic
fins. As the name implies, these skittish fishes dart for cover when
approached and are difficult to photograph. They feed upon zooplankton
suspended in the water column.
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HAWAII
Nemateleotris magnifica
Taema Bank, American Samoa, 85 feet |
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FIRE DARTFISH
| Very rare in Hawaii but locally common throughout the Indo-Pacific
from East Africa to Okinawa & Pitcairn Island. Small groups inhabit
rubble pockets on deeper reefs.
About 3 inches. |
Ptereleotris heteroptera
Poloa, American Samoa, 50 feet |
Makua, Oahu, 35 feet |
SPOTTAIL DARTFISH
| Uncommon over sandy rubble near reefs at scuba depths. Pairs inhabit a burrow into which they dart for safety.
About 4 inches. Red Sea to Okinawa, Hawaii & the Society
Islands. |
INDO-PACIFIC
Nemateleotris decora
Waikiki Aquarium
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Waikiki Aquarium |
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ELEGANT DARTFISH
| Uncommon on deep rubble slopes from the Indian Ocean east to
Micronesia. Absent from Hawaii. About 3 inches. |
Ptereleotris evides
Wakatobi, Indonesia, 50 feet |
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TWOTONE DARTFISH
| Locally common along dropoffs with coral rubble. Attains 6
inches. Red Sea to Japan & Pitcairn Island. |
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