The Red Bandfish is one of the most distinctive and unusual fish of the seabed, belonging to the family Cepolidae. Its name perfectly describes its appearance: the body is extremely elongated and thin, compressed at the sides, resembling a red ribbon waving in the water. The colour is an intense orange or reddish that fades to yellowish toward the belly.

The scientific name refers to its very large eyes, which are adapted to see in the low light of the seabed. Another characteristic involves the dorsal and anal fins, which are continuous and join with the tail to form a single fringe. It is sometimes confused with the giant oarfish by name, but that is a massive creature of the abyss, while this species is much smaller.

It lives on sandy and muddy seabeds, usually at depths of 15 to 200 metres, although it has been recorded at greater depths. Its behaviour is unique because it is one of the few fish that construct their own homes. It digs deep vertical burrows into the mud, which can reach a depth of one metre. It lives permanently in these burrows, and only its head sticks out to feed; at the slightest danger, it disappears into the hole with its tail pointing downward.

This is a planktivorous fish species. It remains at the entrance of its burrow and waits for marine currents to bring food toward it. It feeds mainly on zooplankton, such as microscopic copepods and crab larvae, which it captures with its large mouth, which has a strong upward tilt.

Fisheries & Economic Value

It is not a primary target for fishers and has low commercial value. It is caught mainly as bycatch by bottom trawlers that sweep sandy areas. In many regions, it is discarded, but where it is consumed, such as in Spain and Italy, it is considered an excellent delicacy when fried because the meat is white and delicious. It is sold rarely and usually at a very low price.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies the species as Least Concern. Scientific studies have focused on its role as a biological engineer of the seabed. Researchers discovered that the burrows play a critical role in the health of the ecosystem as they stir and oxygenate the sediments through a process called bioturbation. This allows other microorganisms to thrive there. Furthermore, they live in large colonies, with thousands of burrows located next to each other to form underwater cities.