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Senegal sleeper (Eleotris senegalensis) — Eleotridae

Senegal sleeper

Eleotris senegalensis
Family: Eleotridae
LC · Least Concern

The Senegal sleeper (Eleotris senegalensis) is a brackish-water fish of the family Eleotridae that grows up to 22 cm.

Length
22.4 cm
Water
Brackish
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

Eleotris senegalensis is a sleeper goby (family Eleotridae) of West Africa. The species reaches about 22 cm and has an elongate, dark brown body with a blunt head. It lives in fresh and brackish water along the coast, often in the lower reaches of rivers, creeks and lagoons. As a nocturnal ambush predator it hunts small fishes, crustaceans and insects. The species tolerates varying salinity and is of little commercial value. It is harmless to humans. Little is known in detail about its reproduction, though many sleepers have a planktonic larval stage at sea.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Senegal sleeper?

The Senegal sleeper has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Senegal sleeper live?

The Senegal sleeper lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Senegal sleeper get?

The Senegal sleeper grows to a maximum of about 22 cm.

Is the Senegal sleeper dangerous to humans?

No, the Senegal sleeper is harmless to humans.

Is the Senegal sleeper edible?

The Senegal sleeper is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Senegalese slaapgrondel sourced
English name
Senegal sleeper sourced
Scientific name
Eleotris senegalensis
Family
Eleotridae

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Not 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 Eleotris

More from the family Eleotridae

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