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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

Decorated goby

FISH 7332 Nemateleotris decora, Decorated dartfish, Kri Eco, Raja Ampat-

Nemateleotris decora, Decorated dartfish, Kri Eco, Raja Ampat

FISH 7335 Nemateleotris decora, Decorated dartfish, Kri Eco, Raja Ampat-

Nemateleotris magnifica - Fire dartfish

Nemateleotris magnifica Fire goby (Ptereleotridae), Kadavu, Fiji

FISH 3747 Nemateleotris magnifica - Fire dartfish or fire goby. Kadavu, Fiji.

Nemateleotris magnifica Fire dartfish

Nemateleotris magnifica Fire dartfish

Ptereleotris evides - Two tone dartfish

Ptereleotris evides Twotone dartfish (Ptereleotridae)  Taveuni, Fiji

FISH 4607 Ptereleotris evides Twotone dartfish, Taveuni, Fiji (the fish on top lost points for bad alignment)

Ptereleotris evides Two tone dartfish, Raja Ampat, West Papua

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

Ptereleotris evides Two tone dartfish, Raja Ampat, West Papua

FISH 2947 Pair of Ptereleotris evides, twotone dartfish, Raja Ampat, West Papua.

Ptereleotris hanae Threadfin dartfish

Ptereleotris hanae Threadfin dartfish (PtereleotridaeTaveuni, Fiji

FISH 4620 Ptereleotris hanae Threadfin dartfish, Taveuni, Fiji.

Ptereleotris heteroptera Spottail dartfish

Ptereleotris heteroptera Spottail dartfish (Ptereleotridae), Kadavu, Fiji

FISH 3908 Ptereleotris heteroptera Spottail dartfish, Kadavu, Fiji.

Ptereleotris zebra Zebra dartfish

Ptereleotris zebra Zebra dartfish (Ptereleotridae), Kadavu, Fiji

FISH 3931 Ptereleotris zebra Zebra dartfish, Kadavu, Fiji.

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