Japanese snake blenny

Xiphasia matsubarai

Night hunting bony prey

Regional distribution
Marine fish
Atlantic Ocean
Pacific Ocean
Africa
East Asia
Oceania
Anguilliform
Medium

Xiphasia matsubarai, the Japanese snake blenny, is a species of combtooth blenny found in the western Pacific and Indian oceans just extending into the Atlantic Ocean in False Bay, South Africa. This species can be found at depths ranging from the surface to 4,960 m (16,270 ft). This species reaches 30 cm (12 in) in SL. This species feeds primarily on bony fish, rising to the surface at night to feed.

Class: Teleosts
Order: Blennies and Allies
Family: Blenniidae
Genus: Xiphasia
Maximum length: 30 cm
Water: Marine
Body shape: anguilliform
Distribution: Southeast Atlantic: False Bay, South Africa. Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea to Samoa and Ellice Islands, north to Japan, south to Lord Howe Island; Mariana Islands in Micronesia (Ref. 4404 ).
Conservation status: LCLeast Concern

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