Zebra Dartfish

The Zebra Dartfish (Ptereleotris zebra), also known as the Chinese Zebra Goby, is a small marine fish native to tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region. It inhabits exposed seaward reefs, particularly in shallow waters ranging from 2 to 31 meters (about 6.5 to 102 feet) deep, though it is most commonly found at depths of 2 to 4 meters (approximately 6.5 to 13 feet).

This species can grow up to 12 centimeters (around 4.7 inches) in length. The Zebra Dartfish is recognizable by its distinct appearance, featuring 18 to 20 pink vertical bars across its body. Its dorsal fin is characterized by a striking yellow color, edged in black and blue. The fish's body color ranges from yellowish to greenish-gray, with unique color patterns including a broad blue-edged dark red to purple area near the eyes, two diagonal bright blue bands on the opercle, and an orange-red bar bordered with bright blue on the pectoral fin base. Its fins are predominantly yellowish, with the second dorsal fin displaying a row of blue spots.

The Zebra Dartfish is a schooling fish, often found in small to large groups. These fish thrive in strong current areas and prefer hard-bottomed environments over reefs. They are primarily zooplankton feeders, contributing to their diet.

Their distribution spans the Indo-Pacific, including regions from the 🌊 Red Sea and the undefined islands to the Line and Marquesas Islands (🇵🇫 French Polynesia), extending north to the Ryukyu Islands (🇯🇵 Japan) and south to the southern Great Barrier Reef. They are also found around the Mariana and 🇲🇭 Marshall Islands in 🇫🇲 Micronesia. The scientific name, Ptereleotris, is derived from Greek, meaning "wing" or "fin," combined with the name of a Nile fish, "eleotris."