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Banded goby (Amblygobius phalaena) — Gobiidae

Banded goby

Amblygobius phalaena
Family: Gobiidae
LC · Least Concern

The Banded goby (Amblygobius phalaena) is a saltwater fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 15 cm.

Length
15 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0–52 m
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Western Pacific; sandy and rubble bottoms of coastal reefs.
Edibility
Not eaten

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Description

The banded goby is a goby (Gobiidae) from the western Pacific. The species has an elongate, pale-green to grey-brown body with several dark crossbars and spots. Adults live solitary or in pairs on sand and rubble bottoms of inshore reefs and lagoons. It takes mouthfuls of sediment and sifts small invertebrates, algae and detritus from it, while maintaining a burrow as a refuge. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Banded goby?

The Banded goby has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly green and shows a vertical stripes pattern. Sifts sediment in the mouth and maintains a shelter burrow; banded-head goby of sandy bottoms.

Where does the Banded goby live?

The Banded goby lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Western Pacific; sandy and rubble bottoms of coastal reefs.

How big does the Banded goby get?

The Banded goby grows to a maximum of about 15 cm.

Is the Banded goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Banded goby is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Banded goby edible?

The Banded goby is not usually eaten.

More photos

Banded goby (Amblygobius phalaena) — Gobiidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Vince Golder, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Banded goby (Amblygobius phalaena) — Gobiidae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — Matthias Kleine (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Banded goby (Amblygobius phalaena) — Gobiidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Hiroya Kidoguchi, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Banded goby (Amblygobius phalaena) — Gobiidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Sue Churchill, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))

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All data

Identification

English name
Banded goby verified
Scientific name
Amblygobius phalaena
Family
Gobiidae
Other names
Banded Goby; Banded goby; Brown-barred goby; Goby; Whitebarred goby; White-barred goby; White-spotted goby verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
15 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Green
Pattern
Vertical bars
Tail shape
Rounded
Mouth position
Terminal
Lips
Thick / fleshy
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Max depth (m)
52 verified
Natural range
Western Pacific; sandy and rubble bottoms of coastal reefs.
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small invertebrates, algae and detritus sifted from the sediment sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups
Territorial
No
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known.
Special features
Sifts sediment in the mouth and maintains a shelter burrow; banded-head goby of sandy bottoms. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Not a target species for angling; at most an incidental catch or usable as baitfish.
Regulations source

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Amblygobius

More from the family Gobiidae

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