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Chinwhisker goby (Sagamia geneionema) — Gobiidae

Chinwhisker goby

Sagamia geneionema
Family: Gobiidae

The Chinwhisker goby (Sagamia geneionema) is a saltwater fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 7 cm.

Length
7.1 cm
Water
Saltwater
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Japan, Korea (South)

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Description

The chinwhisker goby is a small goby (Gobiidae) from coastal waters of the northwest Pacific, off East Asia. The species grows to about 10 cm and has a slender, semi-translucent, light-brown body with fine whisker-like projections under the head and fused pelvic fins forming a sucker. As a bottom-dweller it perches on sand and mud bottoms of bays and estuaries and snaps at small crustaceans and worms. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Chinwhisker goby?

The Chinwhisker goby has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Chinwhisker goby live?

The Chinwhisker goby lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Asia: Japan, Korea (South)

How big does the Chinwhisker goby get?

The Chinwhisker goby grows to a maximum of about 7 cm.

Is the Chinwhisker goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Chinwhisker goby is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

More photos

Chinwhisker goby (Sagamia geneionema) — Gobiidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) taiwan_habu, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Chinwhisker goby (Sagamia geneionema) — Gobiidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) shunhirota, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Chinwhisker goby (Sagamia geneionema) — Gobiidae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — Totti (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Chinwhisker goby (Sagamia geneionema) — Gobiidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) sugashima_mar, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))

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All data

Identification

English name
Chinwhisker goby sourced
Scientific name
Sagamia geneionema
Family
Gobiidae

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Natural range
Asia: Japan, Korea (South) sourced
Origin
Native

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore
Diet (detail)
Small fishes, crustaceans and invertebrates
Territorial
No
Reproduction
Separate sexes
Sexual dimorphism
No
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known.

For anglers

Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish.
Regulations source

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

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

More from the family Gobiidae

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