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Updated 5/19/2023

Family Carapidae

Pearlfishes

Pearlfishes are mostly commensal, spending much of their time within bivalves, sea cucumbers, or sea stars.  Some are parasitic, feeding upon the organs of their host  or leave their host at night to locate food.  Pearlfishes are scaleless and eel-like, with the anal opening located far forward near the pelvic fin base.  Several rarely-observed species occur in Hawaii.

 

INDO-WEST PACIFIC / HAWAII

Encheliophis gracilis

SLENDER PEARLFISH