Japanese snake blenny
Xiphasia matsubarai
Valid name (FishBase; confirmed in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes and WoRMS, October 2026).
- English
- Japanese snake blenny
- Scientific
- Xiphasia matsubarai
- Dhivehi
- ހަރުފަ ފުންނަHarufa funna
- Group
- Reef fish
- Maximum size
- Up to about 30 cm (standard length) (FishBase); MRS 1997 gives max. 30 cm
- Depth and habitat
- Near the bottom and in the water column above it, recorded from 0 to 4960 m
- IUCN status
- LC · Least ConcernLeast Concern (LC), assessed 2009
Description
A very unusual, eel-like blenny with a long brown body and long dorsal and anal fins, reaching about 30 cm. It lives in burrows in fine sand or mud in deep water and rises towards the surface at night. It is rarely recorded.
In the Maldives
Dhivehi Wikipedia (MRS-derived) gives harufa funna, a coined name. MRS notes that its Maldives record was based on a specimen caught by hand net in Malé harbour in July 1988.
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Xiphasia-matsubarai.html
- fao.org /4/AD471E/AD471E00.htm
- dv.wikipedia.org /wiki/ހަރުފަ_ފުންނަ
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Xiphasia_matsubarai_235.41_-1+1299422258.jpg
Dhivehi name source: M.R.S. (1997) Fishes of the Maldives (FAO/BOBP MAG/21) gives 'Harufa funna' (Latin form). Thaana from the Dhivehi Wikipedia article 'ހަރުފަ ފުންނަ' (derived from the MRS 1997 Dhivehi edition); it matches the Latin form. FLAG: the source states no traditional name was recorded and this descriptive name was coined for the book; it is not an established fishermen's name.