Home · Eleotridae · Madagascar sleeper
Madagascar sleeper (Hypseleotris tohizonae) — Eleotridae

Madagascar sleeper

Hypseleotris tohizonae
Family: Eleotridae

The Madagascar sleeper (Hypseleotris tohizonae) is a freshwater fish of the family Eleotridae that grows up to 10 cm.

Length
10 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The Madagascar sleeper is a sleeper goby of the family Eleotridae, endemic to Madagascar. The species grows to about 10 cm and has a stocky body with a broad head. It inhabits freshwater brooks, rivers and pools, often among vegetation and on soft bottoms. As an ambush bottom predator it feeds on small invertebrates, insect larvae and small fishes. Unlike true gobies, sleepers have separate pelvic fins without a sucker. Owing to habitat loss and introduced species many Madagascan freshwater fishes are under pressure. Owing to its small size the species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Madagascar sleeper?

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

Where does the Madagascar sleeper live?

The Madagascar sleeper lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Madagascar sleeper get?

The Madagascar sleeper grows to a maximum of about 10 cm.

Is the Madagascar sleeper dangerous to humans?

No, the Madagascar sleeper is harmless to humans.

Is the Madagascar sleeper edible?

The Madagascar sleeper is rarely eaten.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Madagaskar-slaapgrondel sourced
English name
Madagascar sleeper sourced
Scientific name
Hypseleotris tohizonae
Family
Eleotridae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
10.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Marbled 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
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. 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 Hypseleotris

More from the family Eleotridae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →