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Olive flathead-gudgeon (Butis humeralis) — Eleotridae

Olive flathead-gudgeon

Butis humeralis
Family: Eleotridae

The Olive flathead-gudgeon (Butis humeralis) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Eleotridae that grows up to 14 cm.

Length
14.2 cm
Water
Euryhaline
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The olive flathead-gudgeon is a sleeper goby (Eleotridae) from fresh and brackish water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 14 cm and has an elongate, olive-brown body with a flattened head and a large mouth; remarkably, it sometimes swims upside down beneath overhanging structures. As a bottom-oriented ambush hunter it shelters in mangroves, estuaries and slow-flowing rivers and seizes small crustaceans, insects and small fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Olive flathead-gudgeon?

The Olive flathead-gudgeon has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Olive flathead-gudgeon live?

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

How big does the Olive flathead-gudgeon get?

The Olive flathead-gudgeon grows to a maximum of about 14 cm.

Is the Olive flathead-gudgeon dangerous to humans?

No, the Olive flathead-gudgeon is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Olijf-platkopgrondel sourced
English name
Olive flathead-gudgeon sourced
Scientific name
Butis humeralis
Family
Eleotridae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
14.2 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

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

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

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 verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Butis

More from the family Eleotridae

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