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Black-spotted goby (Istigobius nigroocellatus) — Gobiidae

Black-spotted goby

Istigobius nigroocellatus
Family: Gobiidae

The Black-spotted goby (Istigobius nigroocellatus) is a saltwater fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 7 cm.

Length
6.5 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
2.0–10.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The black-spotted goby is a small goby (Gobiidae) from coastal waters of the western Pacific. The species grows to about 7 cm and has a pale, sand-coloured body with fine spots and a few dark, eyespot-like blotches. As a bottom-dweller it lives on sand and rubble bottoms of shallow reefs and lagoons and sifts mouthfuls of sand, filtering out small invertebrates. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Black-spotted goby?

The Black-spotted goby has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Black-spotted goby live?

The Black-spotted goby lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Black-spotted goby get?

The Black-spotted goby grows to a maximum of about 7 cm.

Is the Black-spotted goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Black-spotted goby is harmless to humans.

Is the Black-spotted goby edible?

Yes, the Black-spotted goby is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Zwartoogvlek-grondel sourced
English name
Black-spotted goby sourced
Scientific name
Istigobius nigroocellatus
Family
Gobiidae
Other names
Blackspotted sandgoby; Black-spotted sand-goby verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
6.5 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
2.0 verified
Max depth (m)
10.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
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 verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Istigobius

More from the family Gobiidae

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