Parachaeturichthys polynema (Bleeker, 1853)
Taileyed goby
Parachaeturichthys polynema
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobiinae
Max. size:  15 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: south to Natal, South Africa; India (Ref. 4833) and Japan (Ref. 559).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-11; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 9-10. Body greenish; fins dark; upper caudal fin base with a large black spot surrounded by yellow (Ref. 2798).
Biology:  Parachaeturichthys spp. Inhabit deep water (Ref. 42915). Rarely enters estuaries (Ref. 4833). Captured by trawls over mud bottom (Ref. 11441). Found to contain tetrodotoxin (TTX) and anhydrotetrodotoxin (anh-TTX) which causes paralytic food poisoning (Ref. 54777).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 25 June 2018 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  poisonous to eat


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