Longfins

Common Family Name

Longfins

Alias

Roundheads, Spiny basslets

Scientific Name

Plesiopidae

Size

Up to 20 cm, average 15 cm

Identification

Elongated fishes. Large eyes and mouths. Dorsal and anal fins very long and sometimes longer than the tailfin. The different coloured background like brown or blue, sometimes with lighter spots or bars.

General Info

Plesiopidae family consists of 11 genera and 38 species. Hides in caverns or under ledges during the day. Some have a ‘false eye’ on the back of the dorsal fin to confuse prey. Look like eels when they hide head first in crevices. Usually seen alone on reefs. Pelagic spawners.

Feeding

Feeds on small crustaceans and fish.

Distribution

Occurs in all temperate and tropical oceans of the world.

Common Species

Comet - Calloplesiops altivelis
Bluegill longfin - Plesiops corallicola
Whitespotted longfin - Plesiops nigricanas