Blenniidae

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.