Home · Eleotridae · Chinese gudgeon
Chinese gudgeon (Bostrychus sinensis) — Eleotridae

Chinese gudgeon

Bostrychus sinensis
Family: Eleotridae
LC · Least Concern

The Chinese gudgeon (Bostrychus sinensis) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Eleotridae that grows up to 22 cm.

Length
22 cm
Water
Euryhaline
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The Chinese sleeper is a sleeper goby from coastal and brackish water of the northwest Pacific, along China, Korea and Taiwan. The species grows to about 22 cm and has a stocky, dark-brown mottled body and a broad head, often with an eyespot at the tail base. It lives in muddy tidal areas, mangroves and estuaries and digs burrows, from which it hunts small fish and crustaceans. It is a valued food fish. The IUCN assesses the species as Least Concern (LC).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Chinese gudgeon?

The Chinese gudgeon has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a marbled pattern.

Where does the Chinese gudgeon live?

The Chinese gudgeon lives in both fresh and salt water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Chinese gudgeon get?

The Chinese gudgeon grows to a maximum of about 22 cm.

Is the Chinese gudgeon dangerous to humans?

No, the Chinese gudgeon is harmless to humans.

Is the Chinese gudgeon edible?

Yes, the Chinese gudgeon is commonly eaten.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Chinese slaapgrondel verified
English name
Chinese gudgeon verified
Scientific name
Bostrychus sinensis
Family
Eleotridae
Other names
Four-eyed sleeper verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
22.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Marbled sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thick / fleshy sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Euryhaline sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
Yes sourced
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. 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 Bostrychus

More from the family Eleotridae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →