Home · Gobiesocidae · Skilletfish
Skilletfish (Gobiesox strumosus) — Gobiesocidae

Skilletfish

Gobiesox strumosus
Family: Gobiesocidae
LC · Least Concern

The Skilletfish (Gobiesox strumosus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Gobiesocidae that grows up to 8 cm.

Length
8 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
0.0–33.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The skilletfish (Gobiesox strumosus) is a small clingfish of the family Gobiesocidae from the western Atlantic. The species has a scaleless, tadpole-like body with a broad, flattened head and, on the underside, a powerful sucking disc formed from the pelvic fins, with which it clings to stones, pilings and shells. It reaches about 8 cm and inhabits grassy and rocky shallows and areas around pilings, usually in water less than a metre deep. As a bottom dweller it feeds on small invertebrates. Thanks to the sucking disc it can hold position in surf and current.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Skilletfish?

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

Where does the Skilletfish live?

The Skilletfish lives in brackish water and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Skilletfish get?

The Skilletfish grows to a maximum of about 8 cm.

Is the Skilletfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Skilletfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Skilletfish edible?

The Skilletfish is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Koekenpan-zuignapvis sourced
English name
Skilletfish verified
Scientific name
Gobiesox strumosus
Family
Gobiesocidae
Other names
Skilletfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
8.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Marbled inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

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

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Geen doelsoort voor de hengelsport; hooguit incidentele vangst of bruikbaar als aasvisje. 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 Gobiesox

More from the family Gobiesocidae

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