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Brown goby (Bathygobius fuscus) — Gobiidae

Brown goby

Bathygobius fuscus
Family: Gobiidae
LC · Least Concern

The Brown goby (Bathygobius fuscus) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 12 cm.

Length
12 cm
Water
Euryhaline
Depth
0.0–6.0 m
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The dusky frillgoby is a small goby of the family Gobiidae widely distributed in the tropical Indian and Pacific Oceans. The species has a stocky, brown to dark mottled body reaching about 12 cm, with two separate dorsal fins. It inhabits shallow rocky areas and tide pools and also occurs in estuaries and freshwater streams, tolerating strongly varying salinities. The diet consists of crustaceans, small fishes and algae. Males guard the egg clutch. The species is sometimes sold at local markets but is rarely targeted by fisheries.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Brown goby?

The Brown goby has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a marbled pattern.

Where does the Brown goby live?

The Brown goby lives in both fresh and salt water and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Brown goby get?

The Brown goby grows to a maximum of about 12 cm.

Is the Brown goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Brown goby is harmless to humans.

Is the Brown goby edible?

The Brown goby is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Donkere franjegrondel sourced
English name
Brown goby verified
Scientific name
Bathygobius fuscus
Family
Gobiidae
Other names
Common goby; Dusky frillgoby verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
12.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Marbled inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Euryhaline sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
6.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
Yes inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Bathygobius

More from the family Gobiidae

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