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Whitecap goby (Lotilia graciliosa) — Gobiidae

Whitecap goby

Lotilia graciliosa
Family: Gobiidae

The Whitecap goby (Lotilia graciliosa) is a saltwater fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 3 cm.

Length
3.1 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
10.0–15.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The whitecap goby is a small shrimpgoby (Gobiidae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 3 cm and has a pale body with a conspicuously white head. It lives in symbiosis with a burrowing pistol shrimp: the shrimp digs and maintains a shared burrow, while the goby keeps watch for danger. It eats small zooplankton and bottom life. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Whitecap goby?

The Whitecap goby has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly white.

Where does the Whitecap goby live?

The Whitecap goby lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Whitecap goby get?

The Whitecap goby grows to a maximum of about 3 cm.

Is the Whitecap goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Whitecap goby is harmless to humans.

Is the Whitecap goby edible?

Yes, the Whitecap goby is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Witkap-garnaalgrondel sourced
English name
Whitecap goby sourced
Scientific name
Lotilia graciliosa
Family
Gobiidae
Other names
Whitecap goby verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
3.1 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
White sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
10.0 verified
Max depth (m)
15.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
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

More from the family Gobiidae

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