polka-dot ribbonfish
Desmodema polystictum
Very long and slender open-sea fish, reaching 110 cm, mostly seen in commercial fisheries.
Also called: peixe-fita-de-bolinhas, cinta, polka-dot ribbonfish
- maximum
- 110 cm
- depth
- 0–500 m
who is the polka-dot ribbonfish
Fish of the family Trachipteridae, very elongated and compressed, reaching 110 cm. It lives in the open sea, from the surface down to 500 m, in the epipelagic and mesopelagic zones. It feeds on small fish, squid, octopus and crustaceans. Specimens under 10 cm are silvery with many dark spots. In Latin America it occurs in Brazil and Cuba. It is commercially fished. For anglers, it is an open-sea fish, rarely caught on a rod.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the polka-dot ribbonfish.
fun facts
- Probably occurs in tropical seas around the world.
identification
Very elongated, compressed body in the shape of a ribbon. The dorsal fin is very long and runs along almost the whole back, a trait common to the family. Specimens under 10 cm are silvery with many dark spots, the easiest sign to notice on these small fish.
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
In Latin America it occurs in Brazil and Cuba, in the open sea.
Habitat: Open sea, from the surface down to 500 m, in the epipelagic and mesopelagic zones.
coast
rules for the polka-dot ribbonfish
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
Conservation: Not on the Brazilian national list (Ministerial Ordinance GM/MMA No. 1.667/2026).
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
No danger to anglers. Because it lives in the open sea, it is rarely caught on a rod.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00389, b = 3.12; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Desmodema polystictum (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Desmodema polystictumNames by country and language.
- official Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667, de 27 de abril de 2026: Lista Nacional Oficial de Espécies da Fauna Ameaçadas de Extinção (peixes e invertebrados aquáticos)The species is not on the list. Checked in the DOU of April 28, 2026.