Stats

Lifespan

2-3 yrs

Size

Tiny

Diet

Carnivore

Activity

Diurnal

Social

Pair

Biome

Coral reef

Range

Indo-Pacific

Movement

Swimming

Breeding

Egg-laying

Defense

Burrowing

Status

Rare

About

Fire dartfish are small, brightly colored fish that live in coral reefs. They have the ability to shoot jets of fire, up to 20 centimeters long, to defend themselves against predators.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   hatchling fry

   A tiny fry hatches with a yolk sac and begins free-swimming once the sac is absorbed.
2. 2.
   juvenile

   A juvenile takes on adult body shape and feeds on small prey, often in nursery waters.
3. 3.
   adult

   Fully grown at adult size and coloration.

Learn more

• View on iNaturalist →

Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Actinopterygii

Order

Gobiiformes

Family

Gobiidae

Genus

Nemateleotris

Species

Nemateleotris magnifica