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Peruvian eelgoby (Gobioides peruanus) — Gobiidae

Peruvian eelgoby

Gobioides peruanus
Family: Gobiidae

The Peruvian eelgoby (Gobioides peruanus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 45 cm.

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

Description

The Peruvian eelgoby is an eel-like goby (Gobiidae) from muddy estuaries and mangroves of the eastern Pacific, off Central and South America. The species grows to about 30 cm and has a strongly elongate, purplish-pink, worm-like body with tiny eyes, a scale-poor skin and confluent dorsal, tail and anal fins. As a burrowing bottom-dweller it lives in self-dug tunnels in soft mud and sifts detritus and small invertebrates. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Peruvian eelgoby?

The Peruvian eelgoby has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly pink-purple.

Where does the Peruvian eelgoby live?

The Peruvian eelgoby lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Peruvian eelgoby get?

The Peruvian eelgoby grows to a maximum of about 45 cm.

Is the Peruvian eelgoby dangerous to humans?

No, the Peruvian eelgoby is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Peruaanse aalgrondel sourced
English name
Peruvian eelgoby sourced
Scientific name
Gobioides peruanus
Family
Gobiidae

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
45.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Pink / purple sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish 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
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. 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 Gobioides

More from the family Gobiidae

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