WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Snake Blenny

Xiphasia setifer

Also known as: Eel Blenny, Hairtail Blenny, Hair-tailed Blenny, Hairtail Snake Blenny, Snake Eel Blenny

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2026
Adult
@blogie · Isla Reta Beach Resort, Talikud Island, Island Garden City of Samal, Philippines · May 20121 / 2
01

Overview

Found singly, during the day over mud and sand bottoms, often with their heads showing from the tube holes of their burrows, feeding out in the open at night close to the shelter of their burrows. This blenny has huge fangs either side of its jaw.
They feed nocturnally on crustaceans, invertebrates and worms.

Combtooth Blennies are the largest family of blennies, found in both tropical and subtropical waters and freshwater habitats, as the name suggests they have comb like teeth lining their jaws, well suited for scraping food off hard surfaces!

02

How to identify

Pattern
bars

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-West Pacific
  • Country only · 2
LIVES IN

Found singly, during the day over mud and sand bottoms, often with their heads showing from the tube holes of their burrows, feeding out in the open at night close to the shelter of their burrows.

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Adult photos 2

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Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderBlenniiformes
    5. familyBlenniidae
    6. genusXiphasia
    7. speciesXiphasia setifer Swainson, 1839

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Combtooth Blennies (Blenniidae)