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Highfin Goby (Gobionellus oceanicus) — Gobiidae

Highfin Goby

Gobionellus oceanicus
Family: Gobiidae
LC · Least Concern

The Highfin Goby (Gobionellus oceanicus) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 27 cm.

Length
27 cm
Water
Euryhaline
Depth
0.0–? m
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The highfin goby (Gobionellus oceanicus) is a slender goby of the family Gobiidae found in estuaries and muddy coastal waters of the western Atlantic, from the USA through the Gulf of Mexico to Brazil. It reaches about 20-30 cm and has two separate dorsal fins, the first notably tall. Its brownish, faintly spotted body blends in with the bottom. The fish lives in self-dug burrows on mud flats and feeds on algae, detritus and small bottom invertebrates. Tolerant of variable salinity, it is not used for food.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Highfin Goby?

The Highfin Goby has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Highfin Goby live?

The Highfin Goby lives in both fresh and salt water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Highfin Goby get?

The Highfin Goby grows to a maximum of about 27 cm. On average the species is around 5 cm.

Is the Highfin Goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Highfin Goby is harmless to humans.

Is the Highfin Goby edible?

The Highfin Goby is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Hogevin-grondel inferred
English name
Highfin Goby verified
Scientific name
Gobionellus oceanicus
Family
Gobiidae
Other names
Highfin goby; Ocean goby verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
27.0 verified
Average length (cm)
4.7 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Spots inferred
Tail shape
Rounded sourced
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No verified
Dorsal fins
Two separate verified
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Euryhaline sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 sourced
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
Yes inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes verified
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 Gobionellus

More from the family Gobiidae

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