Description: Unmistakable fish with an orange-red colouration and a long ribbon-shaped or eel-like body which is flattened and tapers to a small, pointed tail. It can grow to a maximum size of 70 cm, although is more commonly recorded at 30-40 cm. They have very long dorsal and anal fins, that are almost the same length as the fish, and in males these can be edged with blue or violet. The front of the dorsal fin is usually red. Their mouth slants upwards and has a single row of pointed, widely spaced teeth. These fish usually live in burrows and are rarely seen by divers. They can form large colonies of many hundreds of burrows but can also occur in small numbers or as individuals.

Habitat: Lives in vertical burrows in mud or fine muddy sand. More commonly recorded offshore in deeper water up to 400 m+, but has been recorded by divers in a few scattered locations. Seems to prefer sheltered muddy areas inshore.

Distribution: Generally found all around Britain and Ireland aside from east coast of Britain. Rare at diving depths, but has been recorded by divers around Rathlin Island, south of England and Scottish and Irish sea loughs.

Similar Species: Unlikely to be confused with any other species.

Key Identification Features:

• Orange-red long ribbon-shaped fish.
• Long dorsal and anal fins; can have violet or blue edges in males.
• Mouth slanted upwards with a single row of widely spaced, pointed teeth.
• Usually live in burrows in mud or fine muddy sand.

Distribution Map from NBN: Cepola macrophthalma at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Cepola macrophthalma at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Cepola macrophthalma

WoRMS: Cepola macrophthalma at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Cepola macrophthalma (Linnaeus, 1758). AphiaID: 126835.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Chordata; Vertebrata; Gnathostomata; Osteichthyes; Actinopterygii; Actinopteri; Teleostei; Eupercaria incertae sedis; Cepolidae; Cepola